Despite Disagreements, Jack Nicklaus Had Profound Words for Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali When Asked About Their Relationship in 2015

The Golden Bear of golf, Jack Nicklaus, received the Muhammad Ali Legacy award in 2015. Sports Illustrated hosted an annual Sportsperson of the Year dinner, where the retired golfer received the respected award. They chose Nicklaus for his many years of success on the golf field and his humanitarian work with Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Not to mention, 2015 was a good year for the legendary golfer. In November of that year, they designated him the third award recipient honoring fair play, leadership, and generosity.

Nicklaus was fortunate to win the prize named for a sportsperson he greatly admired. Both legends crossed paths during the 78th PGA Championship in Kentucky on August 8, 1996, for the first time. They both had their rendezvous at Louisville, Kentucky’s Valhalla Golf Club.

Ali and Nicklaus had great laughs as they posed for the picture together. However, due to Ali’s Parkinson’s illness, the two didn’t talk much. Nonetheless, fast forward to 2015, Nicklaus had some words for ‘the people’s champion‘ in his thank you speech.

An honest expression of feelings by Jack Nicklaus

They humbled Nicklaus by awarding him with such great honor. Post that, he attended an extended version of a lunch interview of 3½ hours. There, he revealed that he did not like Ali much as a person. Because of his trash talk and taunting habit. However, he had tremendous respect for him as an athlete.

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The retired golfer considered Ali “a great champion.” Making honest confessions about his feelings for the boxer, Nicklaus poured his heart out. He said, “I haven’t always agreed with everything he did or said. He taunted some of those guys, didn’t he? Joe Frazier? But I’ve always admired him as an athlete, how he stood up for what he believed in, and what he did for his sport. I didn’t meet him until 1996.”

The only reason for his disliking was his trash talk of Ali. He once commented on his opponent Joe Frazier, which did not set well with the boxing history-making. The legendary boxer said, “It’s gonna be a chilla, and a killa, and a thrilla, when I fight the Gorilla in Manila.”

Ali made this statement before his third fight against Joe Frazier, the greatest battle in the sport’s history. And that is why Nicklaus had a bit of disliking.

Did Nicklaus admire the boxer?

When Nicklaus won the Muhammad Ali Legacy award, he shared a remarkable memory of his life. It was a true testament to his respect for the legendary boxer. He liked to use the walls of his homes for pictures of his family and his grandchildren.

The retired golfer does not prefer displaying plaques of trophies on the wall. However, one picture in his office was very special to him. It was Muhammad Ali. Nicklaus was referring to the same picture they took in 1996. It was a unique picture for him.

Do you agree with Nicklaus? Let us know your views in the comments.

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