Laila Amaria Ali competed in a total of 24 bouts. She retired undefeated, with 21 of her victories coming through knockouts. In 2002, Laila won IBA’s inaugural super middleweight title. In 2003, besides retaining the IBA title, she also won the WIBF and WIBA titles when she defeated Valeri Mahfood in Los Angeles. On September 24, 2004, she fought Gwendolyn O’Neil in Atlanta. The win fetched her the vacant WIBF light heavyweight title. Then again, on June 11, 2005, she knocked out Erin Toughill in Washington, D.C, and grabbed the inaugural WBC (women) super middleweight title.

Returning to her parent division after three years, Laila successfully defended her super middleweight title and hung up her gloves. During the final bout of her career, she knocked down Gwendolyn O’Neil in the first round of their rematch. She possessed the same renowned grit and ferocity that her legendary father displayed inside and outside the ring. However, while the world acknowledged her stellar success, lurking far behind, in the pages of her memoir lived a young girl – a toddler who not only used to get scary dreams but she also had to live through some scarier times as well.

Laila Ali had a traumatic experience during her childhood

On March 31, 2017, Laila Ali’s autobiography ‘Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power’ was published. In the book, she recounts the numerous mistakes she made and how she triumphed over each. 

Read More: ‘If You Were My Woman…’: Laila Ali Once Brilliantly Muzzled Stephen A. Smith Who Stands Against Women in Combat Sports

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The Great Muhammad Ali‘s daughter longed for a ‘regular’ life as a youngster. Then, on the seventeenth page of the book’s second chapter, Laila speaks about the nightmares harassing her. As much as she felt vulnerable at her father’s residence, two dreams, in particular, harassed her constantly. One was about the place turning into a maze with a murderous man chasing her down. The second dream finds her in Muhammad Ali’s study, sitting on a woman’s lap, who is a skeleton!

Turning to real life, she said, “Did I feel unprotected? The fact that I was molested when I was five added to the weirdness I associate with that mansion. It happened on the third floor where my father housed his many trophies, a pool table, and big-screen TV. I was molested by a relative who was six years older. The incident involved fondling that didn’t last long…”

She said that even though she quickly ended the ordeal, she felt disgusted and disturbed by the experience, “I was also left with the feeling that I never wanted to be touched by anyone. I withdrew even more.”

Laila Ali overcomes adversity

It was a matter of time before waywardness swayed the teenager. Then, when she was sixteen, Laila found herself in juvenile detention. Understanding the need for change, she aimed to grow up and have an independent life. Laila finally made that happen by opening her nail salon. But she would eventually achieve far greater fame and fortune in professional boxing.

Laila Ali faced April Fowler on October 8, 1999, at the Turning Stone Casino Convention Center in Verona, New York. After that, she dominated the super middleweight division for the next decade. She remained unbeatable till the time of her retirement.

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