Muhammad Ali

Early Life and Boxing Beginnings

Muhammad Ali was one of the most well-known and influential athletes of the 20th century. Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky. He started boxing at the age of 12 and went on to win the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He turned professional that same year and quickly rose to prominence with his charismatic personality and flashy style.

Capturing the Heavyweight Championship

Ali shocked the world in 1964 when he captured the World Heavyweight Championship from a heavily favored Sonny Liston at the age of 22. Soon after this, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, thereby rejecting his “slave name.” He also joined the Nation of Islam, a controversial black nationalist group led by Elijah Muhammad.

Opposition to the Vietnam War

Ali was ethically opposed to the Vietnam War and refused to be drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966. He was convicted of draft eviction, stripped of his boxing titles, and was banned from the sport for three years. He battled his case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and got his conviction overturned in 1971.

The Rumble in the Jungle

Ali made his return to the ring in 1970 and recaptured his title four years later by defeating George Foreman in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire. The bout was one of the most-watched events in history and featured Ali’s famous “rope-a-dope” tactic of letting Foreman tire himself out by punching Ali’s arms and body before he unleashed a flurry of punches to knock out Foreman in the eighth round.

The Thriller in Manila

Ali faced Joe Frazier in 1975 in the “Thriller in Manila”, which was the final bout of their epic trilogy. The brutal fight lasted 14 rounds with both fighters giving and taking severe punishment. Ali won by technical knockout when Frazier’s trainer stopped the fight before the last round. Ali later stated that it was “the closest thing to dying” that he had experienced.

Three-Time Heavyweight Champion

Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks in 1978 but regained it later that year, making him the first-ever three-time heavyweight champion. He first retired from the sport in 1979 but came out of retirement a year later to fight Larry Holmes for the title. He was badly beaten by Holmes and suffered his first stoppage defeat. He fought his final fight in 1981 against Trevor Berbick and lost a unanimous decision before hanging up his boots for good with a record of 56 wins and 5 losses.

Living with Parkinson’s

Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984, which affected his movement and speed. Despite this, he still remained active in the public domain and made a number of public appearances.

Passing and Legacy

Ali passed away in 2016 at the age of 74 from septic shock due to respiratory problems.