Muhammad Ali : Biography
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| Muhammad Ali |
Muhammad
Ali : Biography
Muhammad Ali is considered one of the greatest athletes in
boxing history, winning both the coveted Golden Gloves title and an Olympic
gold medal, among several other honors.
Boxer, philanthropist and social activist Muhammad Ali was
born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali became a Golden Gloves champion in 1959, and became an Olympic gold
medalist the following year. Ali won all of his bouts in the 1960s, the
majority of them by knockout. Since his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his
time to philanthropy.
Early Life
Boxer,
philanthropist and social activist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay
Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. Considered one of the greatest
athletes in boxing history, Ali showed at an early age that he wasn't afraid of
any bout—inside or outside of the ring. Growing up in the segregated South, Ali
experienced racial prejudice and discrimination firsthand, which likely
contributed to his early passion for boxing.
At the
age of 12, Ali discovered his talent for boxing through an odd twist of fate.
His bike was stolen, and Ali told a police officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted
to beat up the thief. "Well, you better learn how to fight before you
start challenging people," Martin reportedly told him at the time. In
addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local
gym.
Ali
started working with Martin to learn how to box, and soon began his boxing
career. In his first amateur bout in 1954, he won the fight by split decision.
Ali went on to win the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light
heavyweight class. Three years later, he won the National Golden Gloves Tournament
of Champions, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union's national title for the
light-heavyweight division.
Olympic
Gold
In
1960, Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team. He traveled to Rome,
Italy, to compete. At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Ali was an imposing figure in the
ring. He was known for his footwork, and for possessing a powerful jab. After
winning his first three bouts, Ali then defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from
Poland to win the gold medal.
After
his Olympic victory, Ali was heralded as an American hero. He soon turned
professional with the backing of the Louisville Sponsoring Group. During the
1960s Ali seemed unstoppable, winning all of his bouts with majority of them
being by knockouts. He took out British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper in
1963 and then knocked out Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight
champion of the world.
Often
referring to himself as "the greatest," Ali was not afraid to sing
his own praises. He was known for boasting about his skills before a fight and
for his colorful descriptions and phrases. In one of his more famously quoted
descriptions, Ali told reporters that he could "float like a butterfly,
sting like a bee" in the boxing ring.
Conversion
to Islam
This
bold public persona belied what was happening in Ali's personal life, however.
He was doing some spiritual searching and decided to join the black Muslim
group, the Nation of Islam, in 1964. At first, he called himself "Cassius
X," eventually settling on the name Muhammad Ali. Two years later, Ali
started a different kind of fight when he refused to acknowledge his military
service after being drafted. He said that he was a practicing Muslim minister,
and that his religious beliefs prevented him from fighting in the Vietnam War.
In
1967, Ali put his personal values ahead of his career. The U.S. Department of
Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious
objector status. He was found guilty of refusing to be inducted into the
military, but Ali later cleared his name after a lengthy court battle.
Professionally, however, Ali did not fare as well. The boxing association took
away his title and suspended him from the sport for three and a half years.
Boxing
Comeback
Returning
to the ring in 1970, Ali won his first bout after his forced hiatus. He knocked
out Jerry Quarry in October in Atlanta. The following year, Ali took on Joe
Frazier in what has been called the "Fight of the Century." Frazier
and Ali went for 15 rounds before Frazier briefly dropped Ali to the ground,
before beating Ali by decision. Ali later beat Frazier in a 1974 rematch.
Another
legendary Ali fight took place in 1974. Billed as the "Rumble in the
Jungle," the bout was organized by promoter Don King and held in Kinshasa,
Zaire. Ali fought the reigning heavyweight champion George Foreman. For once,
Ali was seen as the underdog to his younger, powerful opponent. Ali silenced
his critics by defeating Foreman and once again becoming the heavyweight
champion of the world.
Perhaps
one of his toughest bouts took place in 1975 when he battled longtime rival Joe
Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila" fight. Held in Quezon City,
Philippines, the match lasted for more than 14 rounds with each fighter giving
it their all. Ali emerged victorious in the end.
By
the late 1970s, Ali's career had started to decline. He was defeated by Leon
Spinks in 1978 and was knocked out by Larry Holmes in 1980. In 1981, Ali fought
his last bout, losing his heavyweight title to Trevor Berbick. He announced his
retirement from boxing the next day.
Philanthropy
and Legacy
In
his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. He announced
that he has Parkinson's disease in 1984, a degenerative neurological condition,
and has been involved in raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in
Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, Ali has also supported the Special Olympics
and the Make a Wish Foundation among other organizations.
Muhammad
Ali has traveled to numerous countries, including Mexico and Morocco, to help
out those in need. In 1998, he was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of
Peace because of his work in developing countries.
In
2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W.
Bush. He also opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville,
Kentucky, that same year. "I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop
the talent I was given," he said. "I believed in myself and I believe
in the goodness of others," said Ali. "Many fans wanted to build a
museum to acknowledge my achievements. I wanted more than a building to house
my memorabilia. I wanted a place that would inspire people to be the best that
they could be at whatever they chose to do, and to encourage them to be
respectful of one another."
Despite
the progression of his disease, Ali remains active in public life. He embodies
the true meaning of a champion with his tireless dedication to the causes he
believes in. He was on hand to celebrate the inauguration of the first
African-American president in January 2009 when Barack Obama was sworn-in. Soon
after the inauguration, Ali received the President's Award from the NAACP for
his public service efforts.
As
he has done every year since its inception, Ali hosted the 15th Annual
Celebrity Fight Night Awards in Phoenix in March 2009. The event benefited the
Celebrity Fight Night Foundation and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.
Ali
has been married to his fourth wife, Yolanda, since 1986. The couple has one
son, Asaad, and Ali has several children from previous relationships, including
daughter Laila who followed in his footsteps for a time as a professional
boxer.
Source
: http://www.biography.com/people/muhammad-ali-9181165
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