Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, is self-proclaimed the ’’Greatest boxer’’ that ever lived. That fact alone is arguable but not to many people.
Ali was born on Jan 17, 1942 in Louisville Kentucky. He was introduced to boxing at the age of twelve and soon made a name for himself. He won the National AAU and Golden Gloves Championships. In 1960 he won the Gold medal in the Olympics in the Light-Heavyweight class. He then went to the pro ranks.
As a pro he won the Championship of the world by defeating Sonny Liston. He also made more history by announcing that he was a member of the Muslims. That is when he became known as Muhammad Ali, and woe to any boxer that refused to call him by his chosen name. He would beat that boxer merciless in the ring, not knocking him out so he could punish him more.
Ali was show-time to the nth degree. he was his own promotion department. He would tell you what round he would knock his opponent out and usually be right.
The white world did not like him because he was bold, brash, and as good as he said he was.
Ali probably is as quickly recognizable as any athelete all over the world.
I don’t know who said it but it was said, ’’There are many men that are affected by the times in which they live, but there are very few that actually shape them’’, talking about Ali.