Ron DiNicola has grown up a lot since he was a high school student defending Muhammad Ali in a letter to the sports editor of the Erie Daily Times in 1974.

DiNicola, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party and two-time congressional candidate, said his admiration of the former heavyweight boxing champ has grown while serving as Ali's personal attorney.

"I've seen him over the years say 'no' to literally millions of dollars to endorse alcohol, tobacco and other things. ... He has strong views and he won't compromise on those views," DiNicola said.

Ali has said "yes," of course, to other deals with the help of DiNicola, who represents Ali in all but tax matters.

DiNicola recently cut a multiyear sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola; he negotiated the 50th birthday special that aired on ABC in 1992 and has another in the works for Ali's 60th birthday this year; and sold Columbia Pictures the rights to the recently released movie biography "Ali," starring Will Smith.

The film climaxes with the Rumble in the Jungle, Ali's eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in Zaire in October 1974 -- an outcome DiNicola said he brashly predicted in his letter to the editor.

Ali told the Erie newspaper, now known as the Times-News, that DiNicola is more than just his attorney.

"He's honest. He's loving, He's serious. He's a good man," Ali said. "He's good-looking. I love him. I like his name -- Ron DiNicola ... he's the kind of guy you can tell your secrets to."

DiNicola met Ali in 1987 in Los Angeles, where he also practiced law for celebrities including Kirk Douglas and Eric Roberts. DiNicola was invited to Ali's house by Howard Bingham, Ali's longtime photographer and close friend.

A Marine Corps boxer, DiNicola said, "I had some things to strike up a conversation with. We sort of hit it off."

A few months later, Ali's fourth wife, Lonnie, called to ask help with a legal matter.

"Then the calls came more frequently until I became essentially the family lawyer," DiNicola said.

"He attended my wedding here in Erie. I attended the wedding of his daughters and his mother's funeral," DiNicola said. "So we do the things that friends do and we developed a relationship that's a real treasure for me and my family."