At a quaint Northbrook gym on a Friday evening, children with hopes of one day becoming the next greatest worked their way around a boxing ring, wearing gloves and practicing different moves with friends.
They were guided by the co-founders of the new Chicago Muslim Boxing Club , Zain Hussain and Saheed Lawal, for Muhammad Ali Day, an official holiday in Illinois since 2022.
In celebration of the Jan. 17 holiday, Ali’s birthday, some 200 people gathered at the Body By Khoshal training facility in Northbrook for an open-house-style event. With special guests like Maryum Ali, Muhammad Ali’s daughter, and Illinois Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, Hussain said it was an honor to collaborate with the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition on the event…