“This Brought a Tear to My Eye”: Pastor Jenkins Lauding Muhammad Ali’s Daughter Laila Ali Leaves Boxing World Inspired

Published 03/20/2023, 9:35 AM EDT

Despite having a tough childhood, Laila Ali transformed her life through sheer grit and determination and followed her father, the great Muhammad Ali, to boxing. Her decade-long career saw her win titles in two divisions and remain undefeated until retirement. The feat of such a boxer, whose name is etched among the sport’s most outstanding, was celebrated by even a pastor while speaking to the faithful. Though she retired in 1999, her subsequent foray into entertainment and entrepreneurship proved equally rewarding.

From one of the comments, it appears Pastor John K Jenkins, the head of the National Ministries for Converge, was talking at Bishop TD Jakes’s church, The Potter’s House. The pastor said, “Muhammad Ali has a daughter named Layla Ali, yeah and Layla decided to take up boxing. She boxed for a few years; as a matter of fact, she had a record of twenty-four and ‘O.‘”

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Then he went on to describe how, during one of her matches, apparently, he was referring to the rematch with Valerie Mahfood on June 21, 2003, she received a cut over her right eyelid and a bloody nose. It appeared that she might lose at one point, but she turned the tables on her opponent and knocked her down.

So during the post-fight interview, she highlighted how watching her great father’s renowned matches against the likes of Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Sonny Liston motivated her to persevere and never give up.

Laila Ali, while thanking pastor Jenkins, messaged, “Happy Sunday! SEND THIS VIDEO TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A REMINDER! ‘Put your dukes up!'” Fans and followers soon joined to share their thoughts.

Laila Ali, an inspiration to millions

@mj.michaeljones100, couldn’t help but appreciate the unique and enduring metaphor, “That’s a special metaphor powerful inspiring through lifetimes!”

Pastor John Jenkins’ sermons brought @joshmilan6969 to tears, unlike Laila Ali, “Smile??? This brought a tear to my eye! Love you, Laila.”

@lovestorymobilewinery would rather have her eldest daughter follow Laila Ali’s path, whom she considers the greatest. But, she said, “And I need my oldest daughter after you …. she’s definitely the greatest.“

@tieeshaessex highlighted that because of Laila Ali, many parents named their daughters Laila or Layla. “You are the reason why so many little girls are named Laila/Layla,” she said.

@1978_ms.isaac thanked Laila for sharing the beautiful message about not giving up even if the odds are heavily stacked against you. She said, “I love this great reminder to keep going don’t give in thank you for sharing this.“

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@zekeofficial__ agreed with the sermon. He reminded everyone that Valerie Mahfood was a lost cause during the rematch with Laila Ali. Though the latter sustained severe injuries. He said, “I get the message 🔥❤️but we all know that Valeria Mahfood was never winning that fight from jump.“

Muhammad Ali’s Daughter Confronts Current Generation Women With Harsh Reality-Check: “Young Ladies Like Erica Give Me…”

It is not the first time Laila Ali received accolades from far-away unknown corners. She is a role model for millions of young girls who want to define their lives on their terms. Active on social media, she uses the platforms to increase awareness among her million-plus followers.

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What’s your take on the reactions? Do share your views and opinions with us in the comments below.

Watch This Story: Boxing News Round-Up (January 26, 2023): Muhammad Ali’s Daughter Laila Ali Mocks Modern-Day Women, Oleksandr Usyk Strikes Again at Tyson Fury, and More

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Written by:

After completing 18 years in the corporate sector, Jaideep decided to make a move out of the comfort zone and follow his heart's calling to becoming a writer. His understanding of Boxing began with Iron Mike's debut as an 18 year old in 1985. Like anyone and everyone else, he holds Muhammad Ali as the greatest, though his personal favorite remains the 'PacMan' Manny Pacquiao for his speed and sheer toughness.

Edited by:

Shibu Immanuel

“This Brought a Tear to My Eye”: Pastor Jenkins Lauding Muhammad Ali’s Daughter Laila Ali Leaves Boxing World Inspired

Laila Ali, an inspiration to millions

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