Salaam Alaikum, A Tribute To Cornerman Wali Muhammad, Boxing’s Silent Gentleman
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Muhammad Ali’s corner, from the moment he defeated defeated Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston to win the world heavyweight championship, was never the same from that point on. This is because everyoneis Ali’s entourage became world famous along with Ali on the same televised ride. Ali was noted not just for his boxing ability and verbal psychological warfare, but equally for the strength of the corner he had during his career: trainer Angelo Dundee; Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, personal physician; Wali Muhammad (Walter Youngblood), security guard and camp assistant; and Drew Bundini Brown, his assistant trainer. The fifth man in the gym and the dressing room was Luis Sarria, physical conditioner and masseur, from Cuba.
Wali ‘Blood’ Muhammad (June 10,1927-January 17, 2012) remains such a magical figure to the world of boxing because he was so quiet. This left his life somewhat of a mystery for boxing experts to figure out later on. Wali Muhammad had a magical presence whenever he reached ringside. There’s no one definition as to how his presence was so powerful, but it always was.
Largely forgotten by boxing historians and experts, Wali showed up my dreams last night, which served as the inspiration to write this historical piece on him and bring Wali Muhammad’s memory back to life.
Wali was briefly married to actress Gail Fisher, who later played Peggie on television’s Mannix, and along with Diane Carroll and Nichelle Nichols, helped to shatter stereotypes by featuring black women in prominent television roles during the civil rights movement. Then Walter Youngblood, Walter became a Muslim, known as Minister Wali Muhammad (sometimes misspelled as Wali Mohammed), and served as an assistant minister to the late Malcolm X at Nation of Islam Harlem Mosque number 7 and Newark Mosque number 25. Wali, ot should be noted, was a devout follower of the late Elijah Muhammad till his death in 1975, and his son the noted theologian W. Deen Muhammad who transformed the then Nation of Islam movement into an orthodox mainstream religion which encouraged closer ties with all Muslim worshippers.
Wali moved from Monroe, Louisiana to Harlem when he was fifteen years old, and served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1946 to 1948. He had a love of boxing, but an eye injury prevented him from pursuing it. Instead he became the personal aide of Hall of Fame boxer Sugar Ray Robinson from 1948 to 1964. His responsibilities included taking care of the champion’s boxing equipment. He became friends with Joe Louis, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Isaac Hayes, The Spinners and many others of historical significance at Sugar Ray’s Café in Harlem, Robinson’s business.
In 1965, Wali joined Muhammad Ali’s team before Ali’s rematch with Sonny Listonin Lewiston, Maine. Not just Ali’s personal security guard and camp assistant, Wali would become best friends with Muhammad Ali, and they would talk and dream of traveling the world together after Ali retired. After Ali beat George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974, he stated he was well invested in did not want to hang around for a couple of dollars. In 1976, when Ali beat Jimmy Young in Landover, Maryland, he stated it would be his last year boxing. In 1981, Ali fought for the last time and lost to Trevor Berbick in Nassau, The Bahamas. In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Syndrome. But according to the late world light heavyweight champion Jose Torres, Ali was taking L-Dopa pills to treat his Parkinson’s in 1980 before his bout with Larry Holmes. If so, Ali’s last two bouts with Holmes and Berbick were not indicative of his normal boxing abilities and the talents of his corner, Ali just was not true to himself and the promises of retiring he had made to his corner, who loyally stayed with him to the bitter end.
I am still discovering new footage of Wali Muhammad with Muhammad Ali. One new discovery is Wali with Ali after Ali’s eight round exhibition at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado against thelate Denver Broncos football player Lyle Alzado in 1979. Wali appears between 21:18 and 21:30 in the right corner of the screen behind Ali found in the 22 minute YouTube highlight of the bout at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHIFdJyWVLg
Wali remarried to Delores Amalbert, and left behind his wife, two children and three grandchildren. Wali spent his later years after retirement working with various youth organizations and underprivileged children who were interested in boxing as a hobby and career, imparting them with his wisdom and expertise from his many years of experience in the sport. His amazing presence and marvelous sense of humor are sadly missed by all. Wali Muhammad was boxing silent gentleman, a role model for all seasons.
May Allah be pleased with him, and may he rest in peace as we remember the good he did and his good presence. As Salaam Alaikum. Amen.
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