16-time World Champion John Cena will be receiving Sports Illustrated’s 2018 Muhammad Ali Legacy Award in honor of his leadership as a philanthropist.
Cena has been going strong inside the squared circle for over a decade now, but his recent contributions and impact has been mostly felt outside of the ring. Cena has been working closely with The Make-A-Wish Foundation and has granted nearly 600 wishes for children with life threatening illnesses, more than anyone else involved with the organization. Cena has also been advocating for breast cancer awareness and early detection. When asked about receiving the award, Cena said the following:
“I am truly thrilled to receive Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award,” Cena said. “Ali’s commitment to helping others, his dedication to the sport and his generous spirit are incomparable and he was a role model to us all. To be linked with him in any way is an honor that means so much to me.”
Sports Illustrated Executive Editor Stephen Cannella, who helped select Cena for the award along with other SI editors, said that the wrestler was selected based on his commitment to philanthropy, as seen below:
“From his unparalleled work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to his support for a wide range of causes ranging from activism for military families to cancer research, John has made personal outreach and generosity of time and spirit his calling cards,” said Sports Illustrated Executive Editor Stephen Cannella. “He might just be the most charitable person in sports, and his dedication to philanthropy richly reflects the spirit of the Ali Legacy Award.”
You can check out the entire article of John Cena being named as the recipient of The 2018 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award at SI.com.