Olympic torch being passed to another Ali

LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB)--He is known mainly as the brother of "The Greatest". But Rahaman Ali is stepping out of his famous brother's shadow. Rahaman Ali once fought on the under card of the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

But now he's accepting an invitation from the royal family to the upcoming Olympic Games in London. "I am thrilled because previously, Stephan...I was with my brother...traveling with Muhammad Ali's entourage," says Rahaman Ali, Muhammad Ali's brother.

Ali and his wife are about to take royal flight. "She invited us...sponsored us to come to London."

Ali has been invited by the Queen of England and Royal Family to be part of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"Well, they've been trying to get us over there for about a year," says Carolin Ali, Rahaman's wife.

To prepare for the trip abroad, Ali has been studying the royal family, and has even painted a portrait of the Queen that he plans to present to her before the games.

In 1996, Muhammad Ali was part of the Olympic games in Atlanta, and you could say the torch is being passed to his brother.

"It has been arranged for me to carry the torch in the Olympics," says Ali.

And in addition to that, the Olympic committee has scheduled several days of activities for Ali...that includes an art show to showcase some of his paintings and "In the Rings with Ali" a celebration of his famous brother's birthday.

Ali says,"I called my brother's wife Lonnie to tell her I am going to carry torch and she put my brother on the phone and he said, Rack I carried it in Atlanta...that's a blessing you going to carry the torch, Rack...I'm going to try to come if I can, Rack."

Although he has been all over the world with his brother, this will be Ali's first trip to the Olympics. However, in the early 60s...he came close to winning a spot on the Olympic boxing team. "I won my first fight in the Olympics but in my second fight to a guy out of Cincinnati name Billy Joiner," says Ali.

Ali turned pro shortly after that and even fought on the under card of the first Ali-Frazier fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City. WDRB News has even obtained rare footage of the bout.

"Some people used to say back in the 50s in the amateurs I was better than Muhammad as teenagers," says Ali.

The Alis leave for London on Tuesday and will be there for 10 days.