And that may be because Ethiopia's majority Orthodox Christians sometimes clash with the country's Muslim population. But Teklu and others in Addis Ababa are still calling him Clay more often than Ali. Muhammad Ali hasn't been Cassius Clay for more than 40 years. He is shown here working out at the Bole Rock Gym in Addis Ababa. Sammy Retta, 35, is an Ethiopian boxer known as 'The Knockout Artist' who has been living in the United States for the past few years. So it would follow that his favorite boxer is considered a king.

Shiferaw Teklu is a former officer in the Imperial Guard in Ethiopia his boss was the former emperor. Sugar Ray Leonard? Oscar De La Hoya? A sucker for a pretty boy with a nice punch. Joe Frazier? That fan is stubborn beyond belief - and not afraid to tell the whole world to take a hike. Anybody who says Jack Johnson or Joe Louis is probably on Social Security right now. You can always tell a little something about a person when they mention who their favorite boxer is. The boxing match in Africa - which will reportedly raise money for charity - is being cast by the promoter as another 'Rumble in the Jungle,' recalling the Muhammad Ali-George Foreman fight more than 30 years ago, in what was then Zaire.Īli made history in that 1974 title fight, reclaiming the crown as heavyweight champion of the world.īut before Ethiopia can make its own history by hosting this non-title match, Retta and Holyfield will have to get into the ring first. Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is expected to meet Ethiopian boxer Sammy Retta next month in Addis Ababa. The boxing world has an unusual fight coming up. boxer and former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (shown here training in Zurich in 2008) is slated to take on challenger Sammy Retta in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sept.

Ethiopian boxing federation