Q&A Muhammad Ali

By Rebecca Winters; Marguerite Michaels; Muhammad Ali

Why did you write Soul of a Butterfly? Most people know the basic facts of my life. Few know the lessons I took from my experiences and the stories, poems and spiritual teachings that helped guide my life. I asked my daughter Hana to write them down. I hope they will inspire others. What is it like to live with Parkinson's? Now the things that once were so effortless--my strong voice and the quickness of my movements--are more difficult. But I get up every day and try to live life to the fullest because each day is a gift from God. There are people counting on me, and I don't want to let them down. What is your routine now? I travel a lot. I enjoy meeting my fans. No matter where I am, prayer, study and reflection are a large part of my life. I am the same person I always was. I just do everything a little slower and a lot quieter. But one thing that hasn't changed is that I am still pretty. When you look back at the boxer you were, do you smile or grimace? I'm always a little surprised at how bold I was. Sometimes I feel a little sad because I can see how some things I said could upset some people. But I did not deliberately try to hurt anyone. The hype was part of my job, like skipping rope. What's it going to take to restore integrity to the heavyweight division? Boxing has long been in need of tighter regulations. Also, it wouldn't hurt if I could make a comeback. --By Marguerite Michaels