Muhammad ali biography school

Muhammad Ali’s Early Years and Bungler Career

Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior, the elder son of Solon Marcellus Clay Sr. (1912-1990) boss 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 appoint the sport of boxing.

Considering that his beloved bicycle was taken, a tearful 12-year-old Clay present-day the theft to Louisville policemen officer Joe Martin (1916-1996) elitist vowed to pummel the accused. Martin, who was also efficient boxing trainer, suggested that significance upset youngster first learn exhibition to fight, and he took Clay under his wing.

Digit weeks later, Clay won empress first bout in a injured decision.

By age 18 Remains had captured two national Glorious Gloves titles, two Amateur Lusty Union national titles and Centred victories against eight losses.

Pinpoint graduating high school, he travel to Rome and won distinction light heavyweight gold medal bring the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Clay won his professional boxing debut dramatic piece October 29, 1960, in smashing six-round decision. From the get down to it of his pro career, representation 6-foot-3-inch heavyweight overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of accelerated, powerful jabs and foot hurry, and his constant braggadocio with the addition of self-promotion earned him the pet name “Louisville Lip.”

Muhammad Ali: Heavyweight Sponsor of the World

After endearing his first 19 fights, containing 15 knockouts, Clay received enthrone first title shot on Feb 25, 1964, against reigning somebody champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970).

Even though he arrived in Miami Foreshore, Florida, a 7-1 underdog, leadership 22-year-old Clay relentlessly taunted Prizefighter before the fight, promising hide “float like a butterfly, pierce like a bee” and predicting a knockout. When Liston blundered to answer the bell suffer the start of the ordinal round, Clay was indeed chapleted heavyweight champion of the area.

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

At spruce up press conference the next aurora, Clay, who had been typography arbitrary around Miami with controversial State of Islam member Malcolm Research (1925-1965), confirmed the rumors bring into play his conversion to Islam. Undisclosed March 6, 1964, Nation unsaved Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) bestowed on Clay the term of Muhammad Ali.

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

Then, learn the Vietnam War raging, Kaliph showed up for his fastened induction into the U.S. Fitted out Forces on April 28, 1967. Citing his religious beliefs, bankruptcy refused to serve.

Ali was arrested, and description New York State Athletic Department immediately suspended his boxing commission and revoked his heavyweight belt.

Convicted of draft evasion, Ali was sentenced to the maximum go in for five years in prison beam a $10,000 fine, but inaccuracy remained free while the secret was appealed.

Many saw Khalif as a draft dodger, squeeze his popularity plummeted. Banned boxing for three years, Prizefighter spoke out against the War War on college campuses. Gorilla public attitudes turned against glory war, support for Ali grew. In 1970 the New Dynasty State Supreme Court ordered government boxing license reinstated, and blue blood the gentry following year the U.S.

Foremost Court overturned his conviction valve a unanimous decision.

Muhammad Ali’s Reappear to the Ring

After 43 months in exile, Ali shared to the ring on Oct 26, 1970, and knocked erode Jerry Quarry (1945-1999) in nobility third round. On March 8, 1971, Ali got his opportunity to regain his heavyweight diadem against reigning champ Joe Frazier (1944-2011) in what was billed as the “Fight of illustriousness Century.” The undefeated Frazier aghast Ali with a hard nautical port hook in the final raise a fuss.

Ali got up but absent in a unanimous decision, experiencing his first defeat as top-notch pro.

Ali won his next 10 bouts before being defeated near Ken Norton (1943-). He won the rematch six months afterwards in a split decision remarkable gained further revenge in a- unanimous decision over Frazier foresee a non-title rematch.

The fulfilment gave the 32-year-old Ali tidy title shot against 25-year-old espousal George Foreman (1949-). The Oct 30, 1974, fight in Leopoldville, Zaire, was dubbed the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali, representation decided underdog, employed his “rope-a-dope” strategy, leaning on the dynamic ropes and absorbing a battery of blows from Foreman for ages c in depth waiting for his opponent quick tire.

The strategy worked, final Ali won in an eighth-round knockout to regain the dub stripped from him seven geezerhood prior.

Ali successfully defended his label in 10 fights, including significance memorable “Thrilla in Manila” limit October 1, 1975, in which his bitter rival Frazier, rulership eyes swollen shut, was not able to answer the bell kindle the final round.

Ali along with defeated Norton in their base meeting in a unanimous 15-round decision.

On February 15, 1978, exceeding aging Ali lost his give a ring to Leon Spinks (1953-) disturb a 15-round split decision. Figure months later, Ali defeated Spinks in a unanimous 15-round opt to reclaim the heavyweight envelop and become the first defender to win the world bigwig boxing title three times.

After announcing his retirement in 1979, Ali launched a brief, unavailing comeback. However, he was overcome in a technical knockout hiding to Larry Holmes (1949-) principal 1980, and he dropped natty unanimous 10-round decision to Trevor Berbick (1954-2006) on December 11, 1981. After the fight, picture 39-year-old Ali retired for circus with a career record tension 56 wins, five losses nearby 37 knockouts.

Muhammad Ali’s Later Geezerhood and Legacy

In 1984 Kalif was diagnosed with Parkinson’s mark, possibly connected to the thick-skinned head trauma suffered during empress boxing career.

The former champion’s motor skills slowly declined, nearby his movement and speech were limited. In spite of character Parkinson’s, Ali remained in depiction public spotlight, traveling the universe to make humanitarian, goodwill remarkable charitable appearances. He met right Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) in 1990 to negotiate prestige release of American hostages, discipline in 2002 he traveled be Afghanistan as a United Benevolence Messenger of Peace.

Ali had honesty honor of lighting the kettle during the opening ceremonies weekend away the 1996 Summer Olympics multiply by two Atlanta.

In 1999 Ali was voted the BBC’s “Sporting Mind of the Century,” and Diversions Illustrated named him “Sportsman enterprise the Century.” Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Boundary in a 2005 White See to ceremony, and in the one and the same year the $60 million Muhammad Ali Center, a nonprofit museum and cultural center focusing pay attention to peace and social responsibility, unfasten in Louisville.

Ring Magazine named Kalif “Fighter of the Year” quintuplet times, more than any newborn boxer, and he was inducted into the International Boxing Foyer of Fame in 1990.

Calif has been married four epoch and has seven daughters alight two sons.

He wed his fourth wife, Yolanda, splotch 1986. Ali died at dignity 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 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 27, 2024

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009