Did you know Amitabh Bachchan was punched by Muhammad Ali? Actor reveals

This year at the Commonwealth Games 2022, the Indian contingent performed extremely well, bringing a total of 61 medals home, including 22 gold medals. One of the gold medallists was boxer Nikhat Zareen who recently made an appearance on Amitabh Bachchan hosted Kaun Banega Crorepati.

 

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A post shared by Nikhat Zareen (@zareennikhat)

While on the show, Zareen admitted that the world renowned boxer Muhammad Ali has been her favourite. Talking about Ali, even Amitabh Bachchan opened up about the moment he met the great athlete. He recalled, “I have met him once at his house in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills. Famous Producer-director Prakash Mehra ji wanted to make a film with Muhammad Ali and me and for that we met at his house. That film never got made, but I ended up getting a punch. I have a photo of him where he is just posing for a punch on my face. What a wonderful human being.”

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T 3791 -” It took Muhammad Ali, 190 milliseconds to detect an opening in his opponent’s defenses and begin throwing a punch into it . It takes an average College student 21 milliseconds to begin synchronizing her movement unconsciously with her friends.” ~d brooks pic.twitter.com/V8Heoj3XKK

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 22, 2021

Even Zareen shared how the great boxer had influenced and inspired her. She said, “When I started watching videos, I really liked Muhammad Ali’s game style. From thereon, I considered him as my role model. I’ve learnt a lot from him, his famous signature step also I know and if you can allow I would like to do it. He inspires me a lot and I try my best to copy his footwork,” before she went on to perform his signature move.

T 2277 – Mohammed Ali the greatest ever ! A gentleman and learned mind ! He not just fought in the ring but outside it as well ! And WON !

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) June 4, 2016

Muhammad Ali was an American boxer and is considered as one of the all-time greats in the sport. He passed away in 2016 from a septic shock, and after his death, Bachchan had spoken about him at a press event. He shared, ““In 1979, I went to his home in Beverly Hills. He was a very simple, grounded and happy person… He was the greatest and I am very sad at his death. Not only did he fight inside the ring, but outside as well. He even threw his gold medal in the river to protest against racial discrimination against him. If you read about him, you will realise he was not just a great sportsperson but a great human being too.”

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