Muhammad Ali gets Team GB (yes, Team GB) off to flyer at European Games as Brit star with famous name is tipped for the top

Muhammad Ali of Bradford is part of Team GB squad in Baku
Ali beat Moldova’s Alexandr Riscan 3-0 on Tuesday in first round of Games
Amir Khan has tipped Ali to be a success at the Olympic Games in Rio

Published:
11:48 GMT, 16 June 2015

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Updated:
11:57 GMT, 16 June 2015

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He shares a name with boxing’s greatest ever fighter, but Muhammad Ali of Bradford proved he is no slouch in the ring as he won his first fight at the European Games.

The 18 year old dispatched Moldova’s Alexandr Riscan 3-0 on Tuesday in the first round of the flyweight category in Baku and will now face Italy’s Vincenzo Picardi in the last 16 on Saturday.

Ali is part of a 12-strong Team GB squad – which includes London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams – that is expected to do well at the Games.

Muhammad Ali of Team GB celebrates his victory over Alexandr Riscan at the European Games on Tuesday

Ali (left) beat Riscan 3-0 and will now face Italy’s Vincenzo Picardi in the last 16 on Saturday

Ali (left, in action against Joe Frazier in 1971) is a source of inspiration for the young fighter from Bradford

Speaking ahead of the Games, Ali admitted that he looked up to his famous namesake. ‘I know I share my name with an all-time great. I’ve always looked up to him,’ he told the Daily Express.

‘He was a good human being. He said what he believed in. And I really respect that about him. I have watched all his fights.’

Ali is highly thought off and Britan’s two-time world champion Amir Khan has tipped him for Olympic glory in Rio next year.

‘Muhammad has really caught my eye already – he’s got a lot of talent and has already accomplished so much at a young age,’ Khan told the Bolton News.

Ali says he looks up to his famous namesake as well as fellow British boxer Amir Khan

Khan has been tipped for great success at the Rio Olympics by Britain’s two-time world champions Khan

‘They keep producing great amateurs in this country and Muhammad could be the latest who comes through in time to go to (the Olympics in) Rio and be a big success.’

Ali, who is training in the same Bury gym that Khan did many years ago, also admitted that Khan is a source of inspiration for him.

He said: ‘Every day I train I see Amir looking down from all the posters in the gym and he’s all over the newspapers so he is definitely an inspiration for me.

‘When I look at what he achieved at such a young age I see no reason why I can’t do the same thing and so far I have not had a problem with the step up to senior level.

‘Going to the Youth Olympics has helped prepare me for Baku but it will be a great experience. Rio is definitely a realistic goal for me and doing well in Baku will only be the start.’