Bill Edwards Knocks Muhammad Ali Out in Vegas

David Beckham

St. Petersburg’s own Bill Edwards may just be the busiest man in show business. He’s got his recording studio. He’s managing the Mahaffey Theater. He’s got big plans to renovate BayWalk. And his company, Bill Edwards Presents, just finished throwing the birthday bash of the century for 70-year old boxing icon, Muhammad Ali. 

Filmed last Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the evening airs ABC this Saturday, Feb. 25, at 4pm, and on ESPN2 later that night at 10 pm.

Part tribute to the legend and part charity ball Al’s "Power of Love" glittered with stars. The evening sold out, filling 160 tables which cost attendess from $1,500 to $10,000 a plate; the crowd of over 2,000 included dignitaries and celebrities from the world of boxing, tennis, soccer, film, music, television and the culinary arts. The tribute included a Live Auction; one notable item was the gloves Ali wore when he defeated Floyd Patterson in Las Vegas in 1965, which sold for 1.1 million dollars.


Dinner was prepared by celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck. Stevie Wonder led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday.” Other performers included Chris Cornell, CeeLo Green, Kelly Rowland and Snoop Dog. Surprise performances included Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield and Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns joining LL Cool J on stage for a boxing version of “Mama Said Knock You Out.”  Even President Obama showed up, on the big screen, to wish Ali a happy birthday.

In a release Bill Edwards says he’s happy with the way things unfolded.

"I am proud that Bill Edwards Presents was chosen to take on this important challenge to produce such a worthy event and TV special. We love to do more TV events and to even have some of them originating from our beautiful St. Petersburg.”

Here’s a short list of the 2000+ attendees: