Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and social activist who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, 1942, and passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, on June 3, 2016. Ali, who successfully defended the heavyweight belt 19 times, became the first fighter to win the title three times in a row.
One of the best boxers in history, Muhammad Ali was the first to capture the heavyweight title in the world three times. He was also well-known for his refusal to be drafted into the American Army during the Vietnam War and for his social message of black pride and resistance to white dominance.
Muhammad Ali Biography
Childhood & Early Life
- Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr and Odessa O’Grady. He was the eldest of the two sons of this couple. His father earned a living by painting billboards and signs.
- Interestingly, it was a Louisville police officer who changed the fate of young Clay. The latter was enraged at a thief who robbed his bicycle and told police officer, Joe Martin that he wished to whip the robber. It was then that Martin suggested him to learn boxing first.
- Martin served as his early coach, teaching him the technicalities of the game. In the last four years of his amateur career, he was trained by cutman Chuck Bodak.
Career
- In his first ever fight which took place in 1954, he won by a split decision. Following this, he won the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light heavyweight class.
- In 1959, he won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union’s national title for the light-heavyweight division.
- His outstanding achievements in his amateur years won him a seat in the US Olympic boxing team in 1960. He won the first three bouts to face Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland. Crushing the latter, he earned his first gold at the event. The Olympic win garnered him a hero status.
- His heroic wins, majority of which were through knockouts, made him the top contender for Sunny Liston’s title. As such, a fight was scheduled between the two in February 1964, in Miami.
- While Liston was the reigning champion, Clay seemed to be the underdog at the event, more so because his last fights against Jones and Cooper displayed lack of skills.
- Even before the fight began, the two turned the pre-fight weigh-in into a circus, demeaning and defaming each other, an incident which was the first-of-its-kind in the history of boxing. Enraged by the disparaging comments, Liston looked for a quick knockout but lost the match in the sixth round.
- Defeating Liston, he became the then youngest boxer to assume the title from a reigning heavyweight champion. Meanwhile, in 1964, he changed his name from Cassius Marcellus Clay to Muhammad Ali, converting to Islam.
- Following the conversion, a rematch was arranged between Muhammad Ali and Liston. However, the second match bore the same result as the first one, except for the fact that it lasted for just about two minutes.
- His second title defence was against Floyd Patterson, who twice lost to Liston in first round knockouts. The match continued for 12 rounds post which he was declared the winner.
- In the following years, Muhammad Ali won a match each against George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London, and Karl Mildenberger. His match against Cleveland Williams in the Houston Astrodome received much limelight, which he won convincingly in the third round via technical knockout (TKO).
- In 1967, he stood against Terrell, who was the unbeaten heavyweight champion for five years. The fight prolonged for 15 rounds, in which both the players displayed tremendous skill and prowess. Muhammad Ali however won the fight in a unanimous decision.
- Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title as he refused to render his services to the army during the Vietnam War. Not only was his boxing license suspended, he was also sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison along with a fine.
- After his period of imprisonment, he made a comeback with a fight against Jerry Quarry on October 26, 1970.
- Muhammad Ali was chosen as the top contender against heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Nicknamed the Fight of the Century, it created a stir as the two undefeated opponents were against each other. The fight took place on March 8, 1971. Though the initial rounds were neck to neck, in the latter Frazier took an advantageous lead and eventually won the contest. This was Ali’s first ever loss since his professional debut.
- In 1973, Ali lost the second fight of his career to Ken Norton, who broke his jaw. In their second bout, Ali won a controversial decision against Norton, thereby earning the right to fight against Joe Frazier, who had recently lost his title to George Foreman.
- The Ali-Frazier rematch took place on January 28, 1974, and Ali won the bout.
- Frazier’s defeat led to a title fight between Ali and heavyweight champion George Foreman. The bout took place on October 30, 1974, and Ali was considered an underdog. However, the result of the match turned in Muhammad Ali’s favor as Foreman failed to make it to the count at the end of the eighth round.
- Year 1975 witnessed one of the toughest fights as Ali fought against Frazier in a match that was titled Thrilla in Manila. Lasting for 14 rounds, the former was declared the winner.
- Post the fight against Frazier, Ali’s career graph observed a decline as he was defeated by Leon Spinks and knocked out by Larry Holmes. After losing his heavyweight title to Trevor Berbick, he retired from boxing in 1979.
Awards & Achievements
- Muhammad Ali was honored with a number of titles including, The Greatest, Fighter of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Sportsman of the Century, and Sports Personality of the Century.
- He was the proud recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received in 2005, from the then President George W. Bush.
- He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is even honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.
Personal Life & Legacy
- Muhammad Ali married four times in his lifetime. His partners were Sonji Roi, Belinda Boyd, Veronica Porsche, and Yolanda. Overall, he had seven daughters and two sons from his alliances. Nico Ali Walsh, Ali’s grandson, is also a boxer.
- He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. The disease was mainly a result of the head injuries that he sustained during his boxing career.
- He died of respiratory complications on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, at the age of 74.
Muhammad Ali Boxing Career
Muhammad Ali is universally recognized as one of the best boxers of all time. He began his career when he was 12 years ago and soon, he became a professional boxer in 1960 and quickly rose to prominence with his stunning victory over Sonny Liston in 1964. Over the course of his career, Ali won 56 out of 61 bouts, including 37 knockouts. He also became the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times.
In addition to his boxing prowess, Ali was also known for his charismatic personality and social activism. He was a passionate opponent of prejudice and injustice, and he used his platform to promote peace and understanding.
What was Muhammad Ali’s boxing style?
Muhammad Ali was known for his “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” style of boxing, which involved quick footwork and movement around the ring combined with fast, powerful punches. He was also known for his excellent defensive skills and ability to take punishment.
Muhammad Ali Records
Muhammad Ali’s boxing record includes 56 wins, 5 losses, and 37 knockouts. He won the world heavyweight title three times, and his list of notable opponents includes Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Ken Norton.
Muhammad Ali as Olympics Championship
Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and an Olympic gold medallist.
When Muhammad Ali was just 18 years old, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He won the gold medal after beating three-time European champion Zbigniew Pietrzykowski in during the final Match. This made him the first American boxer to win an Olympic gold medal since 1904.
Ali’s victory was especially significant because it came at a time when racial tensions were high in the United States. He was hailed as a hero by many African Americans and became an icon of the Civil Rights movement.
After winning the Olympic gold medal, Ali turned professional and went on to become one of the most successful boxers in history. He remains an inspiration to athletes and others around the world.
Muhammad Ali Retirement
In 1981, Muhammad Ali announced his retirement from boxing. He had been the world heavyweight champion for nearly a decade and was widely considered to be the greatest boxer of all time. Ali’s retirement came as a surprise to many, as he was still in his physical prime. However, Ali cited his declining health as the primary reason for his decision.
He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease several years earlier, and it had begun to take a toll on his body. Ali continued to be an active public figure after his retirement, using his platform to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and other causes he cared about.
Muhammad Ali Net worth
Muhammad Ali’s net worth at the time of his death was estimated to be around $80 million.
Controversy
Muhammad Ali was involved in several controversies during his career, including his refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam War and his public criticism of the war and the US government. He was also involved in numerous legal disputes over the years, including disputes over child support and alimony payments.
Awards & Achievements
- Won Kentucky Golden Gloves titles six times in between 1955-60
- Became Olympics light heavyweight champion in 1960
- Twice won the Amateur Athletic Union Championships in 1959 and 1960
- Three times Ring Heavyweight Champion: 1964, 1974, and 1978
- Three times Lineal heavyweight champion: 1964, 1974 and 1978
- Two times WBC Heavyweight champion: 1964 and 1974
- Martin Luther King Memorial Award in 1970
- Three times WBA heavyweight champion: 1964, 1974 and 1978
- Three times NABF Heavyweight champion: 1970, 1971 and 1973
- Three times “BWAA Fighter of the Year” in 1965, 1974 and 1975
- Selected as the “Sportsman of the Year” by famous American magazine ‘Sports Illustrated’ in 1974
- Named as the “Athlete of the Year” in 1974 by Associated Press and also selected as “International Press Athlete of the Year“
- Honoured as BBC “Sports Personality of the Century” in 1999
- Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001
- Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005
- Received Double Helix Medal in 2006
Also Read: George Foreman (American Professional Boxer) Biography
Muhammad Ali Health Issue
Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and three-time Heavyweight Champion of the World has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis was made in 1984 after Ali began showing symptoms of the condition, and he has since been an outspoken advocate for awareness and research on the disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects the ability to control muscle movement. Symptoms of the disease can include tremors, slurred speech, and difficulty walking. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it is believed to be linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms.
Death
Muhammad Ali, one of the world’s greatest boxers and most recognizable sports figures, has died at the age of 74.
Ali’s health began to decline in recent years, and he died on June 3rd, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. His death was met with sadness and shock by people all over the world. Ali will be remembered not only as one of the greatest athletes of all time but also as a man who used his platform to make a difference in the world.
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