By now you've read the stories about Matthew Saad Muhammad, the former light-heavyweight champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers in Philadelphia history, staging his latest comeback -- this time, from a homeless shelter. It first appeared in our own
One Step Away, and was followed in the Philadelphia
Daily News and the Philadelphia
Inquirer.
There's a story behind the scenes of all this, as Matthew makes his recovery and sets about seeking a second chance. Matthew has had a striking effect on the RHD Ridge Center, the largest men's homeless shelters in Philadelphia and and RHD program. Catherine Canady, a wonderful woman who works at Ridge known affectionately as "Miss Cat" put it best when she said: "He gave the guys there with no hope some hope. If they felt that because they took a fall, they can't get back up, he's showed them that you can always get back up and keep going. He's given them some inspiration, a sense of worth, of dignity."
Kevin Roberts, who works with us in communications and set up these interviews for Matthew with the local papers, told a remarkable story about this. According to Kevin, Matthew was preparing to talk with the Daily News and decided he couldn't face the media in jeans and a T-shirt. The way Matthew presents himself is important to him, and he decided to wear a suit. But when he pulled his suit from his locker, it was wrinkled and tattered. Of course, this simply wouldn't do. Matthew could not meet the world looking like this.
So other residents from Ridge, to borrow a phrase from Matthew's boxing career, decided to answer the bell.
One ironed his shirt. Another helped him press his suit. Still another Ridge resident gave him a quick haircut. It was a big day for Matthew, and his fellow Ridge residents, homeless men all, were doing their best to support him and help out.
We're proud to be able to support Matthew Saad Muhammad as he begins his latest comeback. And when he makes it, a lot of people will be able to take pride in the roles they played along the way -- including some of the homeless men sharing space with him at the Ridge.
And if you know anything about Matthew Saad Muhammad, you know that he'll make it. His greatness in the ring was always based upon his ability to endure, persevere, and overcome. On that note, just because I like it as an example of this, here's the Yaqui Lopez fight, in which Matthew takes an extraordinary amount of punishment and comes back to win. It's worth a look, if only to hear the astonished voice of the broadcaster who marvels at the shots Matthew takes and then shrieks: "He's laughing at (Lopez)! Look at him laugh!"
Matthew will have the last laugh over homelessness, too.