Farewell Angelo Dundee

Angelo Dundee, who is best known for the more than two decades he spent as boxer Muhammad Ali’s trainer, has died aged 90.

Mr Dundee worked with 15 world champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and Jimmy Ellis but it is his work with Mr Ali that stands out the most.

The Miami Herald reported that Mr Dundee died of a heart attack in a rehabilitation centre after initially being admitted to the hospital with a blood clot.

He travelled the world with Mr Ali and worked with him in his most famous fights, including “The Rumble in the Jungle” against Mr Foreman in 1974.

Together they crafted the “rope-a-dope” technique which helped Mr Ali dethrone Mr Foreman in what was called the fight of the year by The Ring Magazine.

Mr Dundee, who was born in Philadelphia, attended Mr Ali’s 70th birthday party last month in Louisville, Kentucky.

His son, Jimmy, told US television broadcaster ESPN that Mr Dundee died with his family beside him.

“It was the way he wanted to go. He did everything he wanted to,” he said.

Mr Dundee was considered a quick thinker and the best fight strategist in the sport. He began working with Leonard in 1976 before helping Mr Foreman win the heavyweight title in 1994 at the age of 45.

Mr Dundee’s death comes as questions surround the health of Mr Ali.

In November, the heavyweight great was briefly hospitalised in Phoenix, where doctors treated him for dehydration. That came a few days after Mr Ali attended the funeral of his old rival Joe Frazier, who died of liver cancer in Philadelphia on November 8.

Cornerman to the stars

1921: August 30 – Born Angelo Mirena in Philadelphia.

1955: Helps Carmen Basilio win the world welterweight title against Tony DeMarco.

1960: Begins training one-fight novice Muhammad Ali, then still using his birth name Cassius Clay.

1964: Plays a crucial role in Mr Ali avoiding defeat to Henry Cooper in London, illegally helping his fighter to the corner and using smelling salts after he was knocked down by aleft hook. Allegedly tears a hole in one of Mr Ali’s gloves to buy more time for his fighter to recover.

1965: Mr Ali defeats Sonny Liston to become world heavyweight champion.

1971: Mr Ali, back from boxing exile, loses for the first time to Joe Frazier at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

1974: January 28 – Helps Mr Ali avenge Frazier defeat, winning points decision in rematch.

October 30 – Ali shocks George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle, playing ‘rope a dope’ before stopping the heavy-hitting younger man in the eighth.

1975: Mr Ali beats Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila” with an epic 14th-round stoppage victory.

1977: “Sugar” Ray Leonard turns professional with Mr Dundee in his corner.

1979: Mr Leonard wins WBC welterweight title by beating Wilfred Benitez.

1980: Mr Leonard loses to Roberto Duran.

1981: Mr Leonard beats great rival Thomas Hearns in the “fight of the year”, stopping the Detroit man in the 14th round. Mr Dundee famously rallies his charge, warning him “You’re blowing it, son!” before Mr Leonard scores the knockout.

Mr Ali retires following ignominious defeat by Trevor Berbick.

1987: Mr Leonard returns to the ring to beat Marvin Hagler for the WBC middleweight belt.

1988: Mr Dundee and Leonard split for the fighter’s latest comeback, against Donnie Lalonde.

1992: Inducted into prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame.

1994: Works Mr Foreman’s corner as the veteran knocks out Michael Moorer to regain the world heavyweight title.

2012: January – Attends Mr Ali’s 70th birthday celebrations in Louisville, Kentucky.

February 1 – Dies of a heart attack in Florida.