The boxer most known as Muhammad Ali or "The Greatest" was first born as Cassius Clay Jr in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942. When he was born he was very good at showing that he was not afraid to fight. He is known for his lightning speed, boxing tactics, and his famous pre-fight poems. He is known for having always having big mouth.
Early Life:
When he was was twelve years old his new bike was stolen. He reported it to the police, and said that he wanted to "whup" whoever had stolen his bike. Joe Martin, a police officer, told him that he should learn to fight before he goes and starts challenging people. Joe Martin took him to the gym, where he trained boxers, so he could teach him how to fight. He found that Cassius fought well, and signed him up for amateur fights. In all, Cassius Clay fought 105 times as an amateur with his record being 100-5.
When he was was twelve years old his new bike was stolen. He reported it to the police, and said that he wanted to "whup" whoever had stolen his bike. Joe Martin, a police officer, told him that he should learn to fight before he goes and starts challenging people. Joe Martin took him to the gym, where he trained boxers, so he could teach him how to fight. He found that Cassius fought well, and signed him up for amateur fights. In all, Cassius Clay fought 105 times as an amateur with his record being 100-5.
Change of Religion:
At 22 years old, he converted from Christianity, to Islam. When he changed he was faced with discrimination from people in the US. He converted to a small sect of Islam named Sufi. When he changed he acknowledged that all religions have truths saying, "Islam is a religion of peace. Islam does not promote terrorism or the killing of people…If the culprits are Muslim, they have twisted the teachings of Islam." After converting he was publicly given the name of Muhammad Ali
At 22 years old, he converted from Christianity, to Islam. When he changed he was faced with discrimination from people in the US. He converted to a small sect of Islam named Sufi. When he changed he acknowledged that all religions have truths saying, "Islam is a religion of peace. Islam does not promote terrorism or the killing of people…If the culprits are Muslim, they have twisted the teachings of Islam." After converting he was publicly given the name of Muhammad Ali
Olympics:
At the age of eighteen he competed on the team in Heavyweight boxing during the Rome Olympics of 1960. He won all four of his fights easily, winning the gold medal after defeating European boxer Zbigniew Piertzykowski.
At the age of eighteen he competed on the team in Heavyweight boxing during the Rome Olympics of 1960. He won all four of his fights easily, winning the gold medal after defeating European boxer Zbigniew Piertzykowski.
Vietnam War:
On March 9, 1966, Ali's draft status was changed and so that made him eligible to join the army. When Muhammad Ali heard of this news he said that being a black Muslim he was not going to join the military to fight in the war. His comment on this issue was " My conscience won't let me shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America, and shoot them for what. They ain't never called me n*gger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, they didn't rape and kill my mother and father..... Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail." A year later on April 28th, 1967 he announced in Houston, where he scheduled to have a induction, that he was not going to accept the draft for the army in the Vietnam War using his quote that "I ain't got no quarrel with no Viet Cong". Jackie Robinson who was also an activist at the time said that he had disappointed many of the black African American soldiers, because of the fact that he was being to radical. Robinson's opinion on this topic was "He’s hurting, I think, the morale of a lot of young Negro soldiers over in Vietnam,and the tragedy to me is, Cassius has made millions of dollars off of the American public, and now he’s not willing to show his appreciation to a country that’s giving him, in my view, a fantastic opportunity.” But from Ali's view what Robinson was viewing as a "fantastic opportunity" was someone singing the way to their death. Ali had said that "The government has a system where the rich man's son goes to college and the poor man's son went to war". Because of his non-acceptance into the army he was stripped of his heavyweight title for 3 1/2 years, and was sentenced to five years and prison, but he then won an appeal that took away the prison sentence.
On March 9, 1966, Ali's draft status was changed and so that made him eligible to join the army. When Muhammad Ali heard of this news he said that being a black Muslim he was not going to join the military to fight in the war. His comment on this issue was " My conscience won't let me shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America, and shoot them for what. They ain't never called me n*gger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, they didn't rape and kill my mother and father..... Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail." A year later on April 28th, 1967 he announced in Houston, where he scheduled to have a induction, that he was not going to accept the draft for the army in the Vietnam War using his quote that "I ain't got no quarrel with no Viet Cong". Jackie Robinson who was also an activist at the time said that he had disappointed many of the black African American soldiers, because of the fact that he was being to radical. Robinson's opinion on this topic was "He’s hurting, I think, the morale of a lot of young Negro soldiers over in Vietnam,and the tragedy to me is, Cassius has made millions of dollars off of the American public, and now he’s not willing to show his appreciation to a country that’s giving him, in my view, a fantastic opportunity.” But from Ali's view what Robinson was viewing as a "fantastic opportunity" was someone singing the way to their death. Ali had said that "The government has a system where the rich man's son goes to college and the poor man's son went to war". Because of his non-acceptance into the army he was stripped of his heavyweight title for 3 1/2 years, and was sentenced to five years and prison, but he then won an appeal that took away the prison sentence.
The Comeback:
In 1970 he was given back his boxing title. He fought Jerry Quarry, the game being finished after three rounds.He was given the chance to get his heavyweight title back after fighting Joe Frazier in the fight that given the name as the "Fight of the Century".
The rope -a dope a tactic that Ali made up was used to beat Liston in the " Fight of the Century". This tactic was when he would position himself against the ropes and let Frazier punch him until he was fatigued, and his punches lost effect. When Frazier was fatigued he knocked him out.
In 1970 he was given back his boxing title. He fought Jerry Quarry, the game being finished after three rounds.He was given the chance to get his heavyweight title back after fighting Joe Frazier in the fight that given the name as the "Fight of the Century".
The rope -a dope a tactic that Ali made up was used to beat Liston in the " Fight of the Century". This tactic was when he would position himself against the ropes and let Frazier punch him until he was fatigued, and his punches lost effect. When Frazier was fatigued he knocked him out.
Retirement:
Ali finally retired on June 26th,1979 at the age of 37, but he did not retire for good. He still went on to fight Larry Holmes for the World Boxing Council title, which came with the amount of $8 million. Holmes ended up winning a technical knockout, in the eleventh round.Holmes then lost to Trevor Burdick. Ali then retired at the age of 40,in 1981 with a record of 56-5. He was then diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 42. People had also started to notice that he had slurred speech and and was deteriorating in health. It is said that he got the disease from too many blows in the head. Ali died at the age of 74 on Friday June 3rd,2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona from this disease.
Ali finally retired on June 26th,1979 at the age of 37, but he did not retire for good. He still went on to fight Larry Holmes for the World Boxing Council title, which came with the amount of $8 million. Holmes ended up winning a technical knockout, in the eleventh round.Holmes then lost to Trevor Burdick. Ali then retired at the age of 40,in 1981 with a record of 56-5. He was then diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 42. People had also started to notice that he had slurred speech and and was deteriorating in health. It is said that he got the disease from too many blows in the head. Ali died at the age of 74 on Friday June 3rd,2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona from this disease.