Muhammad Ali "Cassius Marcellous Clay" - the Boxer
Muhammad Ali, originally named as Cassius Marcellous Clay, was born on 17th January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He belonged to a modest family, as his father used to paint billboards and his mother was a domestic woman. At a very young age, Ali started learning boxing from a policeman named, Joe E Martin. Afterwards he also started taking training from an African-American trainer, Fred Stoner. Ali proved his talent in his amateur age, as he made record of 100 wins with just five loses.
Ali started his professional career on 29th October, 1960 and won the six round match against, police chief of Fayetteville, Tunney Hunsaker. From this victory onwards, Ali made a record of 19-0 with 15 knock outs. At the age of 22, Ali defeated Sony Liston in 1964 and became the youngest boxer to take the title, from a heavy weight champion. After this victory, Ali exposed that he was the member of Islam. In 1975 he converted to Sunni Islam. From 1966 onwards, Ali was asked to join the US armed forces, in the Vietnam War. Ali refused to do so, with the perspective that the war was against the teachings of Islam. As a result of this refusal, he was arrested on 28th April 1967, along with the cancellation of his boxing license and his title. He was released on, 28th June 1971, by the orders of Supreme Court.
In 1970, when his case was still in the court, he was given the permission to box by the city of Atlanta Athletic Commission. As a result of this, he defeated Jerry Quarry. Right after this match, his license was given back to him by the Supreme Court. He then defeated, Oscar Bonavena, in December 1960.This was followed by the title fight against Joe Frazier, which Ali lost. However, afterwards he won a non title match from Frazier, in 1974. On 30th October 1974, Ali got back his title, by defeating George Foreman. In 1975 Ali defeated Chuck Wepner and Ron Lyle. In the same year, he defeated Frazier once again, after a very tough match. Followed by this match, Ali won several matches, defeating Jean-Pierre, Jimmy Young, Richard Dun and Ken Norton. In 1977, he defended his title and defeated Alfredo Evanbgelista and Earnie Shavers. In 1978, Ali lost his title against Leon Spinks, who was an Olympics champion of 1976. In 1978, Ali defeated Spinks and won the Heavy weight title, once again. Muhammad Ali’s last fight was with Trevor Bebrick in 1981, which he lost.
Ali had an illustrious career and he can easily be remembered as the best that ever came, to the boxing world. He had defeated every top boxer of his era. This great boxer had been inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and had defeated, seven other inductees, into the Hall of Fame. In 1993, it was reported that Ali was tied with Babe Ruth, as the most recognized athlete out of 800 other, dead or alive athletes at that time.
Ali had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. Despite that, Ali remained one of the most famous athletes in the world and made several public appearances. He also served as a guest referee, at the Wrestle Mania one, which was the inauguration of the event. As a world champion in boxing and his social activities, Ali had been a subject of many books and movies. Later on, people started singing songs about him as-well. Ali is a living legend and many boxers look up to him, as a professional and as a social activist.
Tags: