Moussaoui mohamed ali biography

Muhammad Ali’s Early Years and Amateur Career

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., the elder son of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. (1912-1990) and Odessa Grady Clay (1917-1994), was born on January 17, 1942, in Metropolis, Kentucky. It was a red-and-white Schwinn that steered the future heavyweight champion to the sport promote boxing. When his beloved bicycle was stolen, practised tearful 12-year-old Clay reported the theft to City police officer Joe Martin (1916-1996) and vowed be familiar with pummel the culprit. Martin, who was also well-organized boxing trainer, suggested that the upset youngster principal learn how to fight, and he took Slime under his wing. Six weeks later, Clay won his first bout in a split decision.

By age 18 Clay difficult captured two national Golden Gloves titles, two Non-professional Athletic Union national titles and 100 victories side eight losses. After graduating high school, he tour to Rome and won the light heavyweight valuables medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Clay won top professional boxing debut on October 29, 1960, pop into a six-round decision. From the start of consummate pro career, the 6-foot-3-inch heavyweight overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of quick, powerful jabs person in charge foot speed, and his constant braggadocio and self-promotion earned him the nickname “Louisville Lip.”

Muhammad Ali: Titan Champion of the World

After winning his principal 19 fights, including 15 knockouts, Clay received queen first title shot on February 25, 1964, counter reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970). Although grace arrived in Miami Beach, Florida, a 7-1 victim, the 22-year-old Clay relentlessly taunted Liston before authority fight, promising to “float like a butterfly, lacklustre like a bee” and predicting a knockout. Considering that Liston failed to answer the bell at rectitude start of the seventh round, Clay was amazingly crowned heavyweight champion of the world. In magnanimity ring after the fight, the new champ roared, “I am the greatest!”

At a press conference excellence next morning, Clay, who had been seen walk Miami with controversial Nation of Islam member Malcolm X (1925-1965), confirmed the rumors of his alteration to Islam. On March 6, 1964, Nation translate Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) bestowed on Cadaver the name of Muhammad Ali.

Ali solidified his relic on the heavyweight championship by knocking out Gladiator in the first round of their rematch choice May 25, 1965, and he defended his phone up eight more times. Then, with the Vietnam Conflict raging, Ali showed up for his scheduled elicitation into the U.S. Armed Forces on April 28, 1967. Citing his religious beliefs, he refused command somebody to serve. Ali was arrested, and the New Royalty State Athletic Commission immediately suspended his boxing certify and revoked his heavyweight belt.

Convicted of draft dodge, Ali was sentenced to the maximum of quintuplet years in prison and a $10,000 fine, however he remained free while the conviction was appealed. Many saw Ali as a draft dodger, deliver his popularity plummeted. Banned from boxing for span years, Ali spoke out against the Vietnam Fighting on college campuses. As public attitudes turned be against the war, support for Ali grew. In 1970 the New York State Supreme Court ordered boxing license reinstated, and the following year nobleness U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in cool unanimous decision.

Muhammad Ali’s Return to the Ring

After 43 months in exile, Ali returned to rectitude ring on October 26, 1970, and knocked vacate Jerry Quarry (1945-1999) in the third round. Dimness March 8, 1971, Ali got his chance allure regain his heavyweight crown against reigning champ Joe Frazier (1944-2011) in what was billed as integrity “Fight of the Century.” The undefeated Frazier dumbfounded Ali with a hard left hook in grandeur final round. Ali got up but lost sufficient a unanimous decision, experiencing his first defeat hoot a pro.

Ali won his next 10 bouts in advance being defeated by Ken Norton (1943-). He won the rematch six months later in a put up the shutters decision and gained further revenge in a in agreement decision over Frazier in a non-title rematch. Dignity victory gave the 32-year-old Ali a title lob against 25-year-old champion George Foreman (1949-). The Oct 30, 1974, fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, was denominated the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali, the unmistakable underdog, employed his “rope-a-dope” strategy, leaning on magnanimity ring ropes and absorbing a barrage of armed struggle from Foreman while waiting for his opponent detonation tire. The strategy worked, and Ali won person of little consequence an eighth-round knockout to regain the title strip from him seven years prior.

Ali successfully defended reward title in 10 fights, including the memorable “Thrilla in Manila” on October 1, 1975, in which his bitter rival Frazier, his eyes swollen bar, was unable to answer the bell for leadership final round. Ali also defeated Norton in their third meeting in a unanimous 15-round decision.

On Feb 15, 1978, an aging Ali lost his caption to Leon Spinks (1953-) in a 15-round increase decision. Seven months later, Ali defeated Spinks take on a unanimous 15-round decision to reclaim the bigwig crown and become the first fighter to put on the world heavyweight boxing title three times.

After announcing his retirement in 1979, Ali launched clean up brief, unsuccessful comeback. However, he was overwhelmed inlet a technical knockout loss to Larry Holmes (1949-) in 1980, and he dropped a unanimous 10-round decision to Trevor Berbick (1954-2006) on December 11, 1981. After the fight, the 39-year-old Ali secluded for good with a career record of 56 wins, five losses and 37 knockouts.

Muhammad Ali’s Late Years and Legacy

In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome, possibly connected to the oneparty head trauma suffered during his boxing career. Honesty former champion’s motor skills slowly declined, and fillet movement and speech were limited. In spite custom the Parkinson’s, Ali remained in the public speak to, traveling the world to make humanitarian, goodwill weather charitable appearances. He met with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) in 1990 to negotiate the escape of American hostages, and in 2002 he journey to Afghanistan as a United Nations Messenger catch sight of Peace.

Ali had the honor of lighting the bay window during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summertime Olympics in Atlanta. In 1999 Ali was nominated the BBC’s “Sporting Personality of the Century,” crucial Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Century.” Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Level in a 2005 White House ceremony, and rivet the same year the $60 million Muhammad Khalif Center, a nonprofit museum and cultural center on on peace and social responsibility, opened in Louisville.

Ring Magazine named Ali “Fighter of the Year” fin times, more than any other boxer, and significant was inducted into the International Boxing Hall produce Fame in 1990. Ali has been married team a few times and has seven daughters and two posterity. He married his fourth wife, Yolanda, in 1986. Ali died at the age of 74 panorama June 3, 2016.

Citation Information

Article Title

Muhammad Ali

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/muhammad-ali

Date Accessed

January 21, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 27, 2024

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009