TITLE
RESOLUTION RENAMING THE BOXING CENTER AT TROPICAL PARK AS THE MUHAMMAD ALI BOXING CENTER AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING AND UPON A THREE-FIFTHS VOTE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SUCH NAME CHANGE

BODY
WHEREAS, Mr. Ali�s boxing training began when a Louisville police officer and boxing coach, Joe E. Martin, re-directed Mr. Ali�s anger over a stolen bicycle towards the sport of boxing; and
WHEREAS, beyond his own victories, Mr. Ali�s contributions to the sport of boxing are substantial and significant, starting from before the fight (i.e., the pre-fight taunting that led to Mr. Ali�s recognition as �The King of Trash Talk�) to the development of tactics and techniques that range from those he described as �float like a butterfly, sting like a bee� to the �rope-a-dope� strategy; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, PBS premiered a documentary titled �Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami� that detailed how there might never have been a Muhammad Ali without Miami, where Mr. Ali trained with Angelo Dundee at the Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach and, through skill and persistence, defeated Sonny Liston, becoming, at 22-years-old, the youngest person to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion; and
WHEREAS, just as Mr. Ali profited in fame and talent from his time in Miami, this Board finds that Mr. Ali made a direct, significant lifetime contribution to this community by highlighting Miami as a place for world-class events and drawing attention to the cultural scene in Overtown, which was then considered �Harlem South�; and
WHEREAS, this Board considers it fitting and proper to recognize Mr. Ali�s contributions to boxing by renaming the boxing center at Tropical Park as the Muhammad Ali Boxing Center and, by doing so, encourage the youth of Miami-Dade County to engage in physical activity from a young age and seek a positive means of releasing their energy; and
WHEREAS, Rule 9.02 of the Board�s Rules of Procedure provides that resolutions regarding the proposed naming, renaming, or codesignation of Miami-Dade County roads, facilities, or property shall be sponsored by the district commissioner where the road, facility, or property is located; and
WHEREAS, Tropical Park is located in County Commission District 10, represented by Senator Javier D. Souto,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Having considered this matter at a public hearing, and upon a three-fifths vote of the Board members present, renames the boxing center at Tropical Park as the Muhammad Ali Boxing Center.
Section 2. Directs the County Mayor or designee to take all steps necessary to reflect the renaming described in Section 1, including through the installation of suitable signage.