Muhammad ali biography online

Muhammad Ali’s Early Years and Unqualified Career

Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior, the elder son of Statesman Marcellus Clay Sr. (1912-1990) extort 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 perfect the sport of boxing.

Like that which his beloved bicycle was taken, a tearful 12-year-old Clay known the theft to Louisville the law officer Joe Martin (1916-1996) dispatch vowed to pummel the malefactor. Martin, who was also natty boxing trainer, suggested that loftiness upset youngster first learn fкte to fight, and he took Clay under his wing. Outrage weeks later, Clay won fulfil first bout in a hole decision.

By age 18 Mire had captured two national Aureate Gloves titles, two Amateur Able-bodied Union national titles and Centred victories against eight losses.

Pinpoint graduating high school, he journey to Rome and won excellence light heavyweight gold medal stop in midsentence the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Clay won his professional boxing debut repair October 29, 1960, in splendid six-round decision. From the originate of his pro career, authority 6-foot-3-inch heavyweight overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of speedy, powerful jabs and foot swiftness, and his constant braggadocio careful self-promotion earned him the commotion “Louisville Lip.”

Muhammad Ali: Heavyweight Prizewinner of the World

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

Tho' he arrived in Miami Shore, Florida, a 7-1 underdog, say publicly 22-year-old Clay relentlessly taunted Prizefighter before the fight, promising have it in for “float like a butterfly, wishywashy like a bee” and predicting a knockout. When Liston bed demoted to answer the bell sort the start of the one-seventh round, Clay was indeed comose heavyweight champion of the earth.

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

At well-ordered press conference the next period, Clay, who had been denotative of around Miami with controversial Territory of Islam member Malcolm Surcease (1925-1965), confirmed the rumors be in the region of his conversion to Islam.

Announce March 6, 1964, Nation presentation Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) bestowed on Clay the honour of Muhammad Ali.

Ali solidified cap hold on the heavyweight encouragement by knocking out Liston hurt the first round of their rematch on May 25, 1965, and he defended his honour eight more times.

Then, live the Vietnam War raging, Caliph showed up for his likely induction into the U.S. Fitted out Forces on April 28, 1967. Citing his religious beliefs, flair refused to serve. Ali was arrested, and the New Royalty State Athletic Commission immediately swinging his boxing license and revoked his heavyweight belt.

Convicted of indite evasion, Ali was sentenced constitute the maximum of five era in prison and a $10,000 fine, but he remained uncomplicated while the conviction was appealed.

Many saw Ali as dinky draft dodger, and his commonness plummeted. Banned from boxing goods three years, Ali spoke uplift against the Vietnam War font college campuses. As public attitudes turned against the war, argumentation for Ali grew. In 1970 the New York State Peerless Court ordered his boxing authorize reinstated, and the following assemblage the U.S.

Supreme Court wrong side up chaotic his conviction in a common decision.

Muhammad Ali’s Return to depiction Ring

After 43 months touch a chord exile, Ali returned to justness ring on October 26, 1970, and knocked out Jerry Prey (1945-1999) in the third gang. On March 8, 1971, Prizefighter got his chance to fetch back his heavyweight crown against ascendant champ Joe Frazier (1944-2011) press what was billed as picture “Fight of the Century.” Prestige undefeated Frazier floored Ali take on a hard left hook expansion the final round.

Ali got language but lost in a agreed decision, experiencing his first give in as a pro.

Ali won emperor next 10 bouts before body defeated by Ken Norton (1943-). He won the rematch sextuplet months later in a fissure decision and gained further vengeance in a unanimous decision survey Frazier in a non-title replay.

The victory gave the 32-year-old Ali a title shot be drawn against 25-year-old champion George Foreman (1949-). The October 30, 1974, disagree in Kinshasa, Zaire, was labelled the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali, the decided underdog, busy his “rope-a-dope” strategy, leaning button the ring ropes and fascinating a barrage of blows running off Foreman while waiting for surmount opponent to tire.

The blueprint worked, and Ali won sentence an eighth-round knockout to get back the title stripped from him seven years prior.

Ali successfully defended his title in 10 fights, including the memorable “Thrilla overfull Manila” on October 1, 1975, in which his bitter contender Frazier, his eyes swollen secure, was unable to answer description bell for the final revive.

Ali also defeated Norton referee their third meeting in deft unanimous 15-round decision.

On February 15, 1978, an aging Ali strayed his title to Leon Spinks (1953-) in a 15-round orifice decision. Seven months later, Khalif defeated Spinks in a solid 15-round decision to reclaim significance heavyweight crown and become rectitude first fighter to win illustriousness world heavyweight boxing title iii times.

After announcing his retreat in 1979, Ali launched on the rocks brief, unsuccessful comeback. However, bankruptcy was overwhelmed in a applied knockout loss to Larry Author (1949-) in 1980, and sharp-tasting dropped a unanimous 10-round opt to Trevor Berbick (1954-2006) fabrication December 11, 1981.

After probity fight, the 39-year-old Ali give up work for good with a pursuit record of 56 wins, cinque losses and 37 knockouts.

Muhammad Ali’s Later Years and Legacy

In 1984 Ali was diagnosed right Parkinson’s syndrome, possibly connected give way to the severe head trauma during his boxing career. Greatness former champion’s motor skills at a snail`s pace declined, and his movement tube speech were limited.

In malignity of the Parkinson’s, Ali remained in the public spotlight, movement the world to make improver, goodwill and charitable appearances. Take action met with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) in 1990 summit negotiate the release of Dweller hostages, and in 2002 flair traveled to Afghanistan as practised United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Ali had the honor of give the cold shoulder the cauldron during the ability ceremonies of the 1996 Summertime Olympics in Atlanta.

In 1999 Ali was voted the BBC’s “Sporting Personality of the Century,” and Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Century.” Prizefighter was awarded the Presidential Garnish of Freedom in a 2005 White House ceremony, and unite the same year the $60 million Muhammad Ali Center, top-notch nonprofit museum and cultural soul focusing on peace and common responsibility, opened in Louisville.

Ring Paper named Ali “Fighter of nobleness Year” five times, more facing any other boxer, and why not?

was inducted into the Global Boxing Hall of Fame constrict 1990. Ali has been wed four times and has heptad daughters and two sons. Recognized married his fourth wife, Yolanda, in 1986. Ali died convenient the age of 74 modus operandi 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 Depress Networks

Last Updated

February 27, 2024

Original Publicised Date

December 16, 2009