Today is the Birthday of the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali. The three-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist boxer arrived on Earth today. Muhammad Ali is considered the greatest athlete of all time.
Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. At birth, he was named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. His father’s name is Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. Ali’s father was named after Cassius Marcellus Clay, who was an anti-slavery leader in the 19th century. Ali himself has fought against apartheid all his life.
Muhammad Ali’s whole life was full of fights and struggles. He started learning boxing at the age of 12. Ali made his professional debut on October 29, 1960. He won his debut match against Tunney Hunsaker. Ali made a splash in the boxing world by defeating world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in 1964 at the age of just 22. Ali won a total of 61 boxing matches in his career in 56 matches. Out of these 56 matches, he knocked out his opponents in 36 of them.
Ali’s path in boxing was not very smooth. In 1968 Ali refused to fight for the US military during the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali was a staunch opponent of the war. He was arrested for refusing to go to war and his boxing license was revoked. Ali’s medal was also confiscated and he was fined 10,000 dollars.
After fighting against a corrupt system Ali was released from all charges in 1971 and returned to the boxing ring. Muhammad Ali converted to Islam in 1975 and joined the Nation of Islam. He changed his name from Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr to Muhammad Ali. He retired from Boxing in 1981. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named Muhammad Ali as the best athlete of the century. According to the BBC, he is the best sports personality of the century.
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1980. He died on June 3, 2016, at the age of 84 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. History will remember Ali not only as an athlete or boxer but also as a fighter for his fight against racism. Muhammad Ali is an inspiration to all the oppressed people of the world. We pay our respects to this great personality on his birthday.
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