Sports Illustrated announced Thursday that it would bestow WWE star John Cena with the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award next month in recognition of his philanthropy work.
While noting Cena’s success as a 16-time WWE champion, the publication emphasized his efforts with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he “has granted nearly 600 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses, more than anyone else involved with the organization,” Sports Illustrated said.
SI is proud to announce @JohnCena will be named this year’s recipient of the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award https://t.co/tHYhxh5SRH
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 29, 2018
They also acknowledged him as a supporter of breast cancer awareness and early detection.
Following the announcement, Cena took to Twitter saying this was “something I never dreamed could be possible.”
“Thank you for this honor, I’ll do best to live up to its reputation,” he continued.
To be considered part of Muhammad Ali’s legacy and be added to this incredible list of athletes is something I never dreamed could be possible. Thank you for this honor, I’ll do my best to live up to its reputation. https://t.co/CYleNIZO3g
— John Cena (@JohnCena) November 29, 2018
He also told Sports Illustrated that he was “truly thrilled” to be getting the award.
“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,” the wrestling star said. “To be linked with him in any way is an honor that means so much to me.”
The honor, which was established in 2008 and renamed to honor Ali in 2015, is given each year to an athlete or sports figure who embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy while using sports as a platform, according to The Associated Press.
Past recipients of the award, which is scheduled to be given to Cena at the Sportsperson of the Year ceremony on Dec. 11 in Los Angeles, include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jack Nicklaus and Colin Kaepernick, Sports Illustrated said.
