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Biography: Life of Muhammad Ali
Born 1942
Three-time world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. Cassius Clay began boxing at age twelve and won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1960 at the age of 18. After winning the gold medal, Clay began to box professionally. Early on it was apparent that the young fighter had remarkable hand and foot speed, later developing a stinging jab and strong right hand. Clay was a strong self-promoter, referring to himself as “The Greatest”.
In 1964 Clay fought Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship of the world. Chanting “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” in appearances prior to the fight, Cassius Clay won the fight when Liston could not answer the bell for the seventh round.
After becoming world heavyweight boxing champion, at the age of twenty-two in 1964, Clay announced that, inspired by Malcolm X, he had become a member of the Muslim faith. With his conversion, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He became serious about race and social issues, speaking out against the Vietnam War.
In 1965 Muhammad Ali successfully defended his heavyweight championship title by again knocking out Sonny Liston.
On religious grounds Muhammad Ali refused induction into the Army in 1966. Ali had his boxing license suspended and was stripped of his title in 1967. Ali was convicted of violating the Selective Service Act and faced five years in prison, but was released on appeal. In 1971 the United States Supreme Court upheld his appeal on religious grounds.
In 1971 Muhammad Ali fought the current champion, Joe Frazier, at Madison Square Garden in the “Fight of the Century”. Frazier won the decision, giving Muhammad Ali his first defeat. Ali met Frazier twice more in staged events, scoring a technical knockout in 1975 in their bout called the “Thrilla in Manila”.
Muhammad Ali reclaimed the heavyweight championship in 1974, knocking out the unbeaten George Forman in Kinshasa, Zaire. This fight was called the “Rumble in the Jungle”.
In 1978 Muhammad Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks. Ali reclaimed the title in a rematch with Spinks later in 1978.
Muhammad Ali retired from boxing in 1981. In 1984 it was revealed that Ali had Parkinson’s disease. In retirement Ali has become one of the most recognized faces in the world. In 1996, with trembling hands, Muhammad Ali ignited the Olympic Flame in Atlanta, deeply moving all who watched.
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