Thursday March 28, 2024
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As part of a cultural exchange program initiated by Mayor Greg Fischer and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, six teenage boxers and their coaches from the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABA) are visiting Louisville from October 8-14.

The Louisville-Liverpool cultural exchange is meant to build on the series of iconic photographs showcasing the February 18, 1964 meeting between Louisville’s Muhammad Ali and the Beatles, of Liverpool. In May, local musician Carly Johnson and her band represented Louisville in Liverpool, performing at the Sound City Music Festival and at the iconic Cavern Club.

During their stay in Louisville, the English boxers will train with James Dixon at TKO Boxing, tour area cultural institutions, and visit with area schools to better understand Muhammad Ali’s lasting impact on Louisville. Thanks to a generous $5,000 donation from Danny Wimmer Presents, the boxers will stay at the iconic Galt House Hotel.

“This exchange builds on the connections between Liverpool and Louisville that were initiated with that 1964 meeting of world-changing artists and a barrier-breaking athlete,” Mayor Fischer said. “The Champ and the Fab Four were committed to making the world a better, more compassionate place – a common bond that’s always worth celebrating.”

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram echoed this sentiment: “More than half a century on from the famous photo that brought those two icons together, we are determined to build on those links to create a strong cultural and sporting partnership that will bring our two regions together, paving the way for future cultural and commercial collaborations.”

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