Muhammad Ali
On the 17th of January 1942, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Odessa Grady Clay and Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. His father worked as a sign and billboard painter while his mother served as a domestic helper. The young boy grew up amid racial segregation that left deep scars on his psyche. He recalled one occasion when he was denied a drink of water at a store simply because of his race. This incident really affected him and shaped his early worldview. At age twelve, Clay encountered Louisville police officer Joe E. Martin after a thief stole his bicycle. He told the officer he was going to whup the thief. Martin suggested he learn how to box first. Clay initially did not take up the offer but soon became interested after seeing amateur boxers on a local television program called Tomorrow's Champions. He began working with trainer Fred Stoner who credits himself with giving him real training. By the end of his amateur career, boxing cutman Chuck Bodak had molded his style and stamina. Clay made his amateur debut in 1954 against Ronnie O'Keefe and won by split decision. He went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles and two national Golden Gloves titles. In 1960, he claimed the light heavyweight gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Rome. His amateur record stood at 100 wins and eight losses.
On the 25th of February 1964, Cassius Clay faced Sonny Liston in Miami Beach for the world heavyweight championship. Liston was an intimidating personality with a criminal past and ties to the mob. Clay entered the ring as an 8-to-1 underdog based on his uninspired performance against Doug Jones and Henry Cooper. The pre-fight weigh-in turned into a circus where Clay shouted that someone would die at ringside. His pulse rate measured 120 beats per minute, more than double his normal 54. At the opening bell, Liston rushed forward looking angry and seeking a quick knockout. Clay's superior speed allowed him to elude Liston repeatedly. In the third round, Clay hit Liston with a combination that buckled his knees and opened a cut under his left eye. This marked the first time Liston had ever been cut. By the end of the fourth round, Clay experienced blinding pain in his eyes and asked trainer Angelo Dundee to cut off his gloves. Dundee refused. It has been speculated that ointment used to seal Liston's cuts caused the irritation. Despite the pain, Clay survived until sweat and tears rinsed the irritation from his eyes. He dominated the sixth round and Liston did not answer the bell for the seventh round. Clay declared himself the winner by technical knockout. He became the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion at age twenty-two.
On the 28th of April 1967, Ali appeared in Houston for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces but refused three times to step forward when his name was called. An officer warned him he was committing a felony punishable by five years in prison and a fine of ten thousand dollars. The New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license on the 4th of June 1967. The World Boxing Association stripped him of his title shortly after. Other boxing commissions followed suit leaving him unable to obtain a license in any state for over three years. During this period of exile, Ali spoke at colleges across the nation criticizing the Vietnam War and advocating African American pride. He based himself in Chicago where his formative years took place. Ebony magazine noted in the late 1960s that his popularity had increased especially among black people despite widespread media condemnation. In March 1966, he settled a one million dollar lawsuit against radio producer Murray Woroner by accepting ten thousand dollars to appear in a privately staged fantasy fight against retired champion Rocky Marciano. They filmed sparring for about seventy-five one-minute rounds producing several potential outcomes. Edited versions were shown in movie theaters in 1970. On the 11th of August 1970, Ali was granted a license to box by the City of Atlanta Athletic Commission. His first return bout occurred on October 26 against Jerry Quarry resulting in a win after three rounds.
On the 30th of October 1974, Muhammad Ali faced George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire for the heavyweight championship. Foreman was considered one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history. Analysts pointed out that Joe Frazier and Ken Norton who had given Ali four tough battles had both been devastated by Foreman in second-round knockouts. Ali was thirty-two years old and had lost speed and reflexes since his twenties. Almost no one associated with the sport thought Ali could beat Foreman. He told interviewer David Frost that if you think the world was surprised when Nixon resigned wait till I whup Foreman's behind. The crowds chanted Ali bomaye meaning Ali kill him wherever he went. Beginning in the second round, Ali retreated to the ropes and invited Foreman to hit him while covering up. This move later became known as the Rope-a-dope tactic which violated conventional boxing wisdom. Foreman threw punches that were deflected and did not land squarely. Midway through the fight, as Foreman began tiring, Ali countered more frequently and effectively. In the eighth round, Ali dropped an exhausted Foreman with a combination at center ring. Foreman failed to make the count. Against all odds, Ali regained the title by knockout. The fight was watched by a record estimated television audience of one billion viewers worldwide making it the most-watched live television broadcast at the time.
On the 1st of October 1975, Ali fought Joe Frazier for the third time in Manila under temperatures approaching ninety degrees Fahrenheit. The bout became known as the Thrilla in Manila. During the first rounds, Ali was aggressive moving and exchanging blows with Frazier. However, Ali soon appeared to tire and adopted the rope-a-dope strategy frequently resorting to clinches. In the twelfth round, Frazier began to tire allowing Ali to score several sharp blows that closed Frazier's left eye. Ali dominated the thirteenth and fourteenth rounds conducting what boxing historian Mike Silver called target practice on Frazier's head. The fight stopped when Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch refused to allow Frazier to answer the bell for the fifteenth final round despite Frazier's protests. Frazier's eyes were both swollen shut. An ailing Ali said afterwards that the fight was the closest thing to dying that he knew. After this brutal encounter, Ali considered retirement stating he wanted to sit back and count his money. On the 2nd of February 1976, Ali defeated Jean-Pierre Coopman by fifth-round knockout though the WBC Heavyweight title was not on the line. He struggled in his next fight against Earnie Shavers getting pummeled a few times by punches to the head. Boxing writer Richie Giachetti later described the Holmes fight as awful and the worst sports event he ever had to cover.
Muhammad Ali became a global cultural icon widely known by the nickname the Greatest. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC. His actions as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War made him an icon for the larger counterculture of the 1960s generation. He became a prominent high-profile figure of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement. Ali performed as a spoken word artist releasing two studio albums: I Am the Greatest! in 1963 and The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay in 1976. Both albums received Grammy Award nominations. He also featured as an actor and writer releasing two autobiographies. Outside boxing, Ali's influence extended into hip-hop culture where he is identified as a pioneer. He often predicted in which round he would knock out his opponent using rhyme schemes and free-styled poetry. Civil rights figures came to believe that Ali had an energizing effect on the freedom movement as a whole. Al Sharpton spoke of his bravery at a time when there was still widespread support for the Vietnam War. Coretta Scott King added that Ali was a champion of justice and peace and unity. His resistance to the draft inspired many black Americans and others despite initially making him arguably the most hated man in the country.
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Common questions
When and where was Muhammad Ali born?
Muhammad Ali was born on the 17th of January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. at birth to parents Odessa Grady Clay and Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr.
How did Muhammad Ali win his first world heavyweight championship title?
Muhammad Ali won his first world heavyweight championship by defeating Sonny Liston via technical knockout in the seventh round on the 25th of February 1964. He became the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion at age twenty-two.
Why did Muhammad Ali refuse induction into the U.S. Armed Forces in 1967?
Muhammad Ali refused three times to step forward for induction into the U.S. Armed Forces on the 28th of April 1967 because he opposed the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector. This refusal led to the suspension of his boxing license and the stripping of his title by the World Boxing Association.
What strategy did Muhammad Ali use to defeat George Foreman in 1974?
Muhammad Ali used the Rope-a-dope tactic against George Foreman during their fight on the 30th of October 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire. He retreated to the ropes to let Foreman tire himself out before countering with combinations that resulted in an eighth-round knockout victory.
How long was Muhammad Ali banned from professional boxing after refusing the draft?
Muhammad Ali was unable to obtain a boxing license in any state for over three years following the suspension of his license on the 4th of June 1967. He returned to the ring on the 11th of August 1970 when granted a license by the City of Atlanta Athletic Commission.