Muhammad Ali is one of the most recognized faces on planet Earth; known not just for being one of the Greatest fighters in the history of boxing, but for being one of the most influential persons of the Twentieth century. Ali wasn't always known by that name though, he was born Cassius Marcellus Clay on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, the parents of Odessa and Cassius Sr. Young Cassius and younger brother Rudolph had many small conflicts like any brothers would have, but they were (and still are) blessed with having a very close relationship. Twelve-year-old Cassius was turned on to boxing after his brand-new bike was stolen at an annual Black bazaar called The Louisville Home Show; Joe Martin, a policeman who taught young boys how to box, was in the basement of that event. After Cassius complained to him that he was going to whup the person who "stole" his prized red-and-white Schwinn. Officer Martin decided to push the frustrated youngster towards boxing. Six weeks later Cassius won a three-minute, three-round split decision in his very first match Clay became more dedicated to boxing, fighting 108 amateur bouts, winning six Kentucky Golden Gloves Championships, two National Golden Gloves tournaments, and two National AAU titles. Then the 1960 Rome Olympics came; a reluctant Cassius was afraid to travel over there in an airplane, but he eventually gave in and went, returning to America as a gold medal winner. After winning the gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics, eighteen-year-old Cassius Clay was ready to turn pro. Clay fought many successful bouts after that; he began to do what no boxer has ever done in the history of the sport: predicting the round in which he would prevail. Next up was Sonny Liston, the World Champ who was then the equivalent to Mike Tyson in the late '80s.Clay shook up the world by beating Sonny Liston and became the new World Heavyweight Champion, but he would shake up the world again two days later after announcing that he had joined the Nation Of Islam, becoming Muhammad Ali. The year of '64 was a big year for Muhammad Ali; after becoming World Champ and changing his religion and name, he was quickly becoming the most recognizable and the most outspoken athlete in the world. His fight with the unbeaten heavyweight Joe Frazier earned each man the unheard-of sum of $2,500,000. The battle between Muhammad Ali and heavyweight champ George Foreman took place on September 25, 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire. Foreman, an undefeated monster with forty wins and no losses with seven knockouts. . He was seen as unbeatable (like Liston ten years earlier.) Almost all of his fights ended in the early rounds, and the same two fighters who gave Ali his only losses (Frazier and Norton) were manhandled by Foreman in two rounds or less." The Rumble In The Jungle" was won by Ali who went on to lose and regain his title three time during his professional boxing career. |
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