A campaign is under way to award Muhammad Ali an honorary knighthood. But does he really want – or deserve – one?
Following a petition which attracted 25,000 signatures, Ali’s nomination papers have been handed in to the honors committee in London. These officials are now considering whether the 74-year-old boxer’s name should be put forward for the gong, which is in the ultimate gift of the Queen. British boxer David Haye, who is behind the campaign, believes Ali deserves it in recognition of his work in the fields of civil rights and promoting peace.
In many ways bestowing this award on Ali would be a noble gesture, acknowledging one of the towering sportsmen and entertainers of the 20th century. Ali would also be the first Muslim to receive it. And yet on closer inspection the entire idea is utterly misguided.
Firstly, an honorary knighthood would not allow Ali to be styled ‘Sir Muhammad Ali’ because he is not a British subject. So an honorary knighthood is really just a plastic knighthood. (Past recipients include Steven Spielberg).
A man as flamboyant as Ali would surely have little interest in receiving an award which he couldn’t actually use. And in any case, having renounced what he has described as his ‘slave’ name, Cassius Clay, it would seem odd if Ali felt comfortable accepting an honor which to many people still represents the essence of Empire, Establishment and supremacy.
Secondly, were his nomination to be successful, Ali would receive the award in part for his stance as a man who promoted peace. As a conscientious objector who did not serve in Vietnam, despite being drafted, his claim in this regard is legitimate.
But, as a boxer who pounded hell out of his opponents in the ring for the best part of 20 years as a professional fighter, peace in its purest sense is surely not something with which Ali could objectively be associated.
Thirdly, those of a puritanical bent have also pointed out that Ali has a long track record as a philanderer. Having been married four times and had a string of affairs, his personal life leaves plenty to be desired. Would this potential honorary knight advise younger people to live their lives as he has done?
Fourthly, the British government should not be in the business of handing out awards for populist reasons. The honors system has already been debased by making figures such as tax dodging U2 frontman and Irish citizen Bono – aka Dog Biscuit Man – an honorary knight. As a clever man, Ali would surely know this and might perhaps consider himself above the whole thing.
Why don’t David Cameron and the Queen, who ultimately sign off all honorary awards once they have reviewed the nominees, consider an alternative way of recognizing Mr Ali?
