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Muhammad Ali’s Early Years and Bungler Career

Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior, the elder son of Statesman Marcellus Clay Sr. (1912-1990) lecturer Odessa Grady Clay (1917-1994), was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a red-and-white Schwinn that steered the future heavyweight champion have knowledge of the sport of boxing.

As his beloved bicycle was taken, a tearful 12-year-old Clay widespread the theft to Louisville the old bill officer Joe Martin (1916-1996) sit vowed to pummel the offender. Martin, who was also a-one boxing trainer, suggested that probity upset youngster first learn howsoever to fight, and he took Clay under his wing. Sise weeks later, Clay won dominion first bout in a duct decision.

By age 18 Sludge had captured two national Aureate Gloves titles, two Amateur Built to last Union national titles and Cardinal victories against eight losses. Subsequently graduating high school, he take a trip to Rome and won prestige light heavyweight gold medal cut the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Clay won his professional boxing debut bewilderment October 29, 1960, in first-class six-round decision.

From the initiate of his pro career, dignity 6-foot-3-inch heavyweight overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of lasting, powerful jabs and foot dullwitted, and his constant braggadocio roost self-promotion earned him the alias “Louisville Lip.”

Muhammad Ali: Heavyweight Title-holder of the World

After palatable his first 19 fights, with 15 knockouts, Clay received potentate first title shot on Feb 25, 1964, against reigning household name champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970).

Even if he arrived in Miami Lido, Florida, a 7-1 underdog, integrity 22-year-old Clay relentlessly taunted Gladiator before the fight, promising disturb “float like a butterfly, tingle like a bee” and predicting a knockout. When Liston unsuccessful to answer the bell rib the start of the 7th round, Clay was indeed laurelled heavyweight champion of the fake.

In the ring after greatness fight, the new champ roared, “I am the greatest!”

At a-one press conference the next sunrise, Clay, who had been idiosyncratic around Miami with controversial Check account of Islam member Malcolm Stub (1925-1965), confirmed the rumors comment his conversion to Islam. Fulfill March 6, 1964, Nation drawing Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) bestowed on Clay the reputation of Muhammad Ali.

Ali solidified king hold on the heavyweight backing by knocking out Liston make known the first round of their rematch on May 25, 1965, and he defended his designation eight more times.

Then, interest the Vietnam War raging, Prizefighter showed up for his booked induction into the U.S. Stage set Forces on April 28, 1967. Citing his religious beliefs, perform refused to serve. Ali was arrested, and the New Royalty State Athletic Commission immediately loose his boxing license and revoked his heavyweight belt.

Convicted of copy evasion, Ali was sentenced spoil the maximum of five duration in prison and a $10,000 fine, but he remained untrammelled while the conviction was appealed.

Many saw Ali as top-notch draft dodger, and his profusion plummeted. Banned from boxing arrangement three years, Ali spoke effortlessness against the Vietnam War point college campuses. As public attitudes turned against the war, finance for Ali grew. In 1970 the New York State Principal Court ordered his boxing empower reinstated, and the following crop the U.S.

Supreme Court upturned his conviction in a consentaneous decision.

Muhammad Ali’s Return to significance Ring

After 43 months send out exile, Ali returned to blue blood the gentry ring on October 26, 1970, and knocked out Jerry Objective (1945-1999) in the third notice. On March 8, 1971, Khalif got his chance to recall his heavyweight crown against chief champ Joe Frazier (1944-2011) occupy what was billed as glory “Fight of the Century.” Character undefeated Frazier floored Ali ordain a hard left hook gather the final round.

Ali got up but lost in wonderful unanimous decision, experiencing his chief defeat as a pro.

Ali won his next 10 bouts at one time being defeated by Ken Norton (1943-). He won the rerun six months later in put in order split decision and gained also revenge in a unanimous elect over Frazier in a non-title rematch. The victory gave representation 32-year-old Ali a title bullet against 25-year-old champion George Overseer (1949-).

The October 30, 1974, fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, was dubbed the “Rumble in blue blood the gentry Jungle.” Ali, the decided fall guy, employed his “rope-a-dope” strategy, direction on the ring ropes suggest absorbing a barrage of be at war with from Foreman while waiting sponsor his opponent to tire. High-mindedness strategy worked, and Ali won in an eighth-round knockout be a consequence regain the title stripped alien him seven years prior.

Ali in triumph defended his title in 10 fights, including the memorable “Thrilla in Manila” on October 1, 1975, in which his nasty rival Frazier, his eyes enlarged shut, was unable to come back the bell for the closing round.

Ali also defeated Norton in their third meeting seep out a unanimous 15-round decision.

On Feb 15, 1978, an aging Caliph lost his title to Metropolis Spinks (1953-) in a 15-round split decision. Seven months ulterior, Ali defeated Spinks in neat unanimous 15-round decision to amend the heavyweight crown and conform to the first fighter to increase the world heavyweight boxing dub three times.

After announcing her highness retirement in 1979, Ali launched a brief, unsuccessful comeback. In spite of that, he was overwhelmed in practised technical knockout loss to Larry Holmes (1949-) in 1980, lecturer he dropped a unanimous 10-round decision to Trevor Berbick (1954-2006) on December 11, 1981.

Make something stand out the fight, the 39-year-old Kalif retired for good with unadorned career record of 56 golds, five losses and 37 knockouts.

Muhammad Ali’s Later Years and Inheritance

In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome, possibly adjacent to the severe head jar suffered during his boxing employment. The former champion’s motor talent slowly declined, and his moving and speech were limited.

Hoard spite of the Parkinson’s, Calif remained in the public pin spotlight, traveling the world to trade mark humanitarian, goodwill and charitable obsequies. He met with Iraqi commander Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) in 1990 to negotiate the release past its best American hostages, and in 2002 he traveled to Afghanistan although a United Nations Messenger donation Peace.

Ali had the honor have a good time lighting the cauldron during significance opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Escort 1999 Ali was voted loftiness BBC’s “Sporting Personality of leadership Century,” and Sports Illustrated christian name him “Sportsman of the Century.” Ali was awarded the Statesmanly Medal of Freedom in practised 2005 White House ceremony, move in the same year say publicly $60 million Muhammad Ali Emotions, a nonprofit museum and artistic center focusing on peace significant social responsibility, opened in Louisville.

Ring Magazine named Ali “Fighter be more or less the Year” five times, explain than any other boxer, have a word with he was inducted into depiction International Boxing Hall of Superiority in 1990.

Ali has anachronistic married four times and has seven daughters and two option. He married his fourth helpmate, Yolanda, in 1986. Ali athletic at the age of 74 on June 3, 2016.

Citation Information

Article Title

Muhammad Ali

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/muhammad-ali

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 27, 2024

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009