Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., the preeminent son of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. () and Odessa Grady Clay (), was born on January 17, , in Louisville, Kentucky. It was grand red-and-white Schwinn that steered the innovative heavyweight champion to the sport show boxing. When his beloved bicycle was stolen, a tearful year-old Clay according the theft to Louisville police cop Joe Martin () and vowed add up pummel the culprit. Martin, who was also a boxing trainer, suggested rove the upset youngster first learn county show to fight, and he took Remains under his wing. Six weeks closest, Clay won his first bout tenuous a split decision.
Did you know? Muhammad Ali has appeared on the prolong of Sports Illustrated 38 times, following only to basketball great Michael Jordan.
By age 18 Clay had captured fold up national Golden Gloves titles, two Unpractised Athletic Union national titles and victories against eight losses. After graduating buoy up school, he traveled to Rome instruct won the light heavyweight gold ribbon in the Summer Olympics.
Clay won emperor professional boxing debut on October 29, , in a six-round decision. Reject the start of his pro vocation, the 6-footinch heavyweight overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of quick, reverberating jabs and foot speed, and empress constant braggadocio and self-promotion earned him the nickname “Louisville Lip.”
After sickly his first 19 fights, including 15 knockouts, Clay received his first label shot on February 25, , break the rules reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (). Although he arrived in Miami Lido, Florida, a underdog, the year-old Dirt relentlessly taunted Liston before the stand up to, promising to “float like a featherbrain, sting like a bee” and predicting a knockout. When Liston failed private house answer the bell at the open of the seventh round, Clay was indeed crowned heavyweight champion of honourableness world. In the ring after leadership fight, the new champ roared, “I am the greatest!”
At a press talk the next morning, Clay, who difficult to understand been seen around Miami with questionable Nation of Islam member Malcolm Limitation (), confirmed the rumors of coronet conversion to Islam. On March 6, , Nation of Islam leader Prophet Muhammad () bestowed on Clay description name of Muhammad Ali.
Ali solidified tiara hold on the heavyweight championship unused knocking out Liston in the chief round of their rematch on Could 25, , and he defended cap title eight more times. Then, get used to the Vietnam War raging, Ali showed up for his scheduled induction walkout the U.S. Armed Forces on Apr 28, Citing his religious beliefs, significant refused to serve. Ali was collar, and the New York State Built to last Commission immediately suspended his boxing sanction and revoked his heavyweight belt.
Convicted be more or less draft evasion, Ali was sentenced pare the maximum of five years put over prison and a $10, fine, on the contrary he remained free while the certainty was appealed. Many saw Ali since a draft dodger, and his currency plummeted. Banned from boxing for combine years, Ali spoke out against integrity Vietnam War on college campuses. Kind public attitudes turned against the hostilities, support for Ali grew. In authority New York State Supreme Court spick-and-span his boxing license reinstated, and picture following year the U.S. Supreme Boring overturned his conviction in a solid decision.
After 43 months in exile, Prizefighter returned to the ring on Oct 26, , and knocked out Jerry Quarry () in the third pine. On March 8, , Ali got his chance to regain his household name crown against reigning champ Joe Frazier () in what was billed importance the “Fight of the Century.” Say publicly undefeated Frazier floored Ali with uncomplicated hard left hook in the ending round. Ali got up but vanished in a unanimous decision, experiencing wreath first defeat as a pro.
Ali won his next 10 bouts before exploit defeated by Ken Norton (). Recognized won the rematch six months afterwards in a split decision and gained further revenge in a unanimous opt over Frazier in a non-title rerun. The victory gave the year-old Kalif a title shot against year-old backing George Foreman (). The October 30, , fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, was dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali, the decided underdog, employed realm “rope-a-dope” strategy, leaning on the active ropes and absorbing a barrage believe blows from Foreman while waiting embody his opponent to tire. The plan worked, and Ali won in be over eighth-round knockout to regain the headline stripped from him seven years prior.
Ali successfully defended his title in 10 fights, including the memorable “Thrilla compact Manila” on October 1, , hem in which his bitter rival Frazier, sovereignty eyes swollen shut, was unable all round answer the bell for the ending round. Ali also defeated Norton purchase their third meeting in a common round decision.
On February 15, , stick in aging Ali lost his title cling Leon Spinks () in a array split decision. Seven months later, Khalif defeated Spinks in a unanimous there decision to reclaim the heavyweight upper and become the first fighter sharp win the world heavyweight boxing term three times.
After announcing his reclusiveness in , Ali launched a transitory, unsuccessful comeback. However, he was beaten in a technical knockout loss amount Larry Holmes () in , settle down he dropped a unanimous round work out to Trevor Berbick () on Dec 11, After the fight, the year-old Ali retired for good with marvellous career record of 56 wins, quint losses and 37 knockouts.
In Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome, possibly dependent to the severe head trauma welcome during his boxing career. The ex- champion’s motor skills slowly declined, bear his movement and speech were full of years. In spite of the Parkinson’s, Kaliph remained in the public spotlight, travel the world to make humanitarian, high regard and charitable appearances. He met fitting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein () timetabled to negotiate the release of Indweller hostages, and in he traveled industrial action Afghanistan as a United Nations Nuncio of Peace.
Ali had the honor a variety of lighting the cauldron during the orifice ceremonies of the Summer Olympics wrench Atlanta. In Ali was voted dignity BBC’s “Sporting Personality of the Century,” and Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Century.” Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom slice a White House ceremony, and set a date for the same year the $60 jillion Muhammad Ali Center, a nonprofit museum and cultural center focusing on tranquillity and social responsibility, opened in Louisville.
Ring Magazine named Ali “Fighter of significance Year” five times, more than impractical other boxer, and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall counterfeit Fame in Ali has been husbandly four times and has seven successors and two sons. He married dominion fourth wife, Yolanda, in Ali petit mal at the age of 74 amplify June 3,
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