Great Britain’s Muhammad Ali is seen fighting Venezuela’s Yoel Segundo Finol during the Men’s Fly (52kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Riocentro – Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. AFP / Yuri CORTEZ
There will not be a second Olympic champion called Muhammad Ali after Britain’s flyweight with the most famous name in boxing was defeated in his Rio debut on Monday.
The young Ali — reportedly bestowed the name by his boxing-mad father — was left distraught and in tears after his Olympic dream came to a premature end after just nine minutes of action.
Venezuela’s Yoel Finol, 19, was awarded the bout on a unanimous points decision to leave Ali, who is a year older, with his head in his hands and looking stunned.
“I’ve been here too long and I was itching to get in there,” said Ali, who was making his first appearance nine days after the Rio boxing began.
“I let the emotions get the better of me, I just tried too hard and nothing was flowing and now I am just here…” said Ali, his voice trembling and tears welling in his eyes.
“I just feel like it’s the end of the world.”
The heavyweight legend Ali, who died in June aged 74, announced his presence to the world — he was then called Cassius Clay — with gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960.