Mohamed Ali
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Beginnings
Clay, named after his father and Kentucky abolitionist Cassius M. Clay, was born in Louisville, Kentucky. At age 12, he had his bicycle stolen, and reported the fact to a local policeman (and boxing trainer), Joe Martin. Martin suggested that Clay learn to fight; under his guidance, Clay rapidly advanced through the youth ranks. A low achiever academically, Clay won six Kentucky Gold Gloves while at high school and was allowed to graduate despite his poor grades. Presciently, his principal announced during a staff meeting about the issue that Clay would someday be “this schools claim to fame.” Clay later joked about his lackluster academic record saying, “I said I was the Greatest, not the smartest.”
At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, he won a gold medal as a light heavyweight boxer. He then turned professional under the tutelage of boxing legend Angelo Dundee and quickly became famous for his unorthodox style, his spectacular results, and his tireless self-promotion (the latter inspired in part by professional wrestler Gorgeous George and singer Little Richard). He made a name for himself as the “Louisville Slugger” by composing poems predicting in which round he would knock out his opponent. He boisterously sang his own praises, with sayings like “I am the greatest” and “Im young, Im pretty, Im fast, and no one can beat me.”
In Louisville on October 29, 1960 Cassius Clay won his first professional fight. He won a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker, who was the police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia. From 1960 to 1963, the young fighter amassed a record of 19-0 with 15 knockouts. He defeated such boxers as Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Duke Sabedong, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, and Lamar Clark (who had won his previous 40 bouts by knockout). Among Clays more impressive victories were against Sonny Banks (who knocked him down earlier in the bout), Alejandro Lavorante, and Archie Moore (a boxing legend who had won over 200 previous fights). Cassius became the number one contender for Sonny Listons title. Liston was greatly feared, and some have said that he was the Mike Tyson of his era. Almost no one gave the young boxer a chance of beating Liston. The date was fixed for February 25, 1964; during the weigh-in, the boisterous Ali declared that he would “float like a butterly, sting like a bee”. [1] (
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First Title Fight, Clay versus Liston
Clay, however, had a plan. Misreading Clays exuberance as nervousness, Liston was over-confident and unprepared for any result but a quick stoppage. In the opening rounds, Clays speed, greater even than his idols, Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore, kept him away from Listons powerful head and body shots, as he used his height and reach advantage to effectively counterpunch with the jab. As early as the third round, Liston began to visibly tire, and Clay took full advantage, landing several heavy punches. By the third, Clay was clearly on top and had opened a large cut under Listons eye. Liston regained some ground in the fourth, as Clay was blinded by a foreign substance. It is unknown whether this was something used to close Listons cuts or applied to Listons gloves for a nefarious purpose. Partially sighted, Clay was able to keep out of range, and by the fifth and into the sixth, he was looking for a finish. That came before the seventh, when Liston retired on his stool, later claiming his shoulder had become dislocated. Clay leapt out of his corner, proclaiming himself “King of the World” and demanding the writers eat their words.
Clay was duly crowned the heavyweight champion of the world. He would reconfirm his abilities when he knocked out Liston in the first round of their rematch in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965, albeit controversially, as few observers saw the “phantom punch” that floored Liston. That November, Clay met and defeated former champion Floyd Patterson. The referee stopped the fight in Round 12 after Patterson had taken a horrible beating.
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Clay becomes Ali
In between the two matches, he also became famous for other reasons: he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, although only a few journalists (most notably Howard Cosell) accepted it. 1966 and early 1967 were a busy time for the champion. In a period of a year he defended his title seven times. No other champion has had that many defenses in only a year. In March 1966, he won a unanimous decision over tough Canadian champion George Chuvalo (who was never knocked down in his career). Ali then traveled to England to face “British Bulldog” Brian London and Henry Cooper (who had knocked him down in their initial 1963 match). Ali won both fights by knockout. He traveled to Germany next to face southpaw Karl Mildenberger (who was the first German to fight for the title since Max Schmeling). In one of his tougher fights, Ali finally won by knockout in Round 12. In November 1966, Ali returned to the United States to face Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams in the Houston Astrodome. Williams had one of the highest knockout percentages in history and has often been ranked as one of the finest fighters who never won a title. Many felt he would give the champion a tough battle, however Ali easily knocked him out in the third round. In February and March of 1967, Ali faced Ernie Terrell in the Astrodome and Zora Folley at Madison Square Garden. Terrell had refused to acknowledge Alis name and the champ vowed to punish him for this perceived insolence. Even though the fight went to a decision, Ali delivered a horrible beating and won every round. He kept taunting the challenger throughout the fight and many called his treatment cruel and brutal. Alis fight with the 35 year old Folley is regarded by many as his finest performance in the ring. He showed what a breathtaking fighter he was by throwing every punch sharply and on target. He knocked out the challenger in Round 7.
It was in this same year he refused to serve in the American army during the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector, famously saying that he “got nothing against no Viet Cong” and “No Vietnamese ever called me a nigger.” He was stripped of his championship belt and his license to box and sentenced to five years in prison. The sentence was overturned on appeal three years later.
Alis actions in refusing military service and aligning himself with the Nation of Islam made