MUHAMMAD ALI - SMITH RECALLS FIRST ALI ENCOUNTER

Boxing legend MUHAMMAD ALI thought it was good thing Will Smith initially turned down a chance to play him on screen - the boxing legend didn't think the actor was good looking enough. Smith eventually accepted the role, scoring an Oscar nomination for his depiction of the boxer in 2001's ALI, but he was nervous about meeting the sports star after his initial reluctance to play him. He tells Empire magazine, "I met him years ago, and he was aware that I had turned down the script to play him then. I didn't know he was going to respond. "I walked up to him and said, 'Champ, pleasure to meet you,' and Ali said, 'Man, you're almost pretty enough to play me!' That was our first meeting. We've been going back and forth since deciding who's the prettiest!"