KARACHI: Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie stole the spotlight at the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night XIX in Phoenix, Arizona held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort. The event is held to raise funds to find a cure for Parkinson's Disease, which the legendary boxer has been suffering from since 1984. It grants donations to charities, especially the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute.
This year, the star-studded ceremony included performances from US songstress Jennifer Lopez, Hollywood actors Steve Martin (“The Pink Panther”), Billy Crystal (“Parental Guidance”), blind musician Andrea Bocelli, Billy Ray Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) and American Idol star Hailey Reinhart to name a few. An auction was also held, selling musical instruments and packages such as a tête-à-tête with J. Lo and Andrea Bocelli.
About two thousand people attended the event, enjoying the dazzling performances, and getting convinced to donate after watching the 71-year-old boxer cross the stage supported by his better half Lonnie.
Latin heartthrob Jennifer Lopez performed the closing act, complete with costume changes, 12 extra dancers, and a Spanish duet with Opera star Bocelli.
The fundraiser has raised $80 million since its inception 18 years ago. This weekend’s function too was no small matter; it was able to scrape up $7.2 million.
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