People | December 21, 2015 10:54 AM EST
50 Facts About Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Boxing Legend From U.S.A
Ali was an unorthodox boxer with superior hand speed, super reflex, with constant movement made it difficult for opponents. There is no doubt he would ‘Float like Butterfly and Sting like a Bee.’
- He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky.
- He was named after his father Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. a painter by profession. His Mother, Odessa O Grady Clay was a household domestic.
- He had a sister and four brothers. They were predominantly of African –American descent with English, Irish and Italian ancestry.
- He was encouraged to take up boxing, by a police officer Joe E. Martin, to combat the thief, who stole his bicycle.
- Early in his career he used to do a show named ‘Tomorrow’s Champions with Martin.’ Later joined ‘Stoners’ gym and trained under him as an amateur.
- As an amateur he won six Kentucky Golden Gloves and two national Golden Gloves title. He also won ‘Amateur Athletic Union National Title’ apart from ‘1960 Olympic Gold medal’ in Light Heavyweight.
- Ali lost the Olympic medal and was replaced during the ‘1996 Atlanta Olympics.’ He had the honor of lighting the torch to start the games.
- On March 06, 1964 he was recruited in to ‘Nation of Islam’ and renamed Muhammad Ali. Later in 1975 he converted to mainstream ‘Sunny Islam.’
- Ali made his professional debut with a win over Tunney Hunsaker on October 29, 1960. He won the bout in six- round decision.
- By the turn of 1963, Ali had win loss record of 19-0 including 15 wins by knockout. In his fight against his former trainer Archie Moore, he rhymed that ‘Archie Moore must fall in four,’ and as predicted Moore was knocked out in the fourth round.
- Ali’s fight against Dough Jones on March 13, 1963 was labeled as, ‘Fight of the Year.’ It was fought at ‘New York Madison Square Garden.’
- Ali left Moore’s camp after he was asked to do house hold chores. He hired Angelo Dundee to be his trainer.
- On February 25, 1964 in Miami, Ali fought Sonny Liston the favorites. Although Ali was the underdog with 7-1 odds, ‘Liston’ was beaten in the seventh round by technical knockout.
- During the bout, Ali experienced irritation in the eye. It was speculated it was due to the ointment applied to Liston’s cuts was also deliberately applied to his glows.
- Ali’s rematch with Liston on May 1965 lasted less than two minutes. Ali knocked down Liston with a punch dubbed by press as ‘Phantom Punch,’ and was down for more than 20 seconds.
- Ali retained his title defense against Floyd Patterson which lasted 12 rounds. He was criticized by the media for clowning and taunting of Patterson.
- His scheduled fight with WBA champion Ernie Terrell on March 29, 1966, was not sanctioned by the ‘Illinois Athletic Commission,’ over Ali’s refusal to serve in the armed forces.
- Ali’s fight against Cleveland Williams on November 14, 1966 was considered by many as the finest performance of his career. The attendance of over 35,460 people was a indoor record then.
- Ali’s win against Terrell in Houston on February 06, 1967 was described by critics as the ‘One of the Ugliest Boxing Fights,’ in an apparent reference to Ali’s intention to inflict maximum punishment.
- Ali was sentenced to five years in jail and a fine of 10,000 dollars for his refusal to serve in the armed forces. His boxing license was suspended and stripped of his title.
- He lost three years of his boxing carrier from March 1967 to October 1970, as he was denied a boxing license and stripped of his passport over draft case.
- Before the verdict with the case still in appeal, Ali was given license by the ‘Atlanta Athletic Commission.’ His return bout against Jerry Quarry on October 26 lasted just three rounds with a win.
- Ali’s big fight on March 08, 1971 at ‘Madison Square Garden’ against Joe Frazier was billed as ‘Fight of the Century.’
- Ali set up a real training camp near ‘Reading, Pennsylvania.’ He lived and trained for all his fights until his retirement in 1980s.
- The ‘Fight of the Century’ lasted full twelve rounds before Ali lost on unanimous decision. His first professional defeat.
- All the pre fight theatrics from Ali made Frazer a strong dislike towards him. After the bout, in a nationally televised interview, Frazer wrestled Ali to the floor.
- Ali’s second loss of the career came at the hands of Ken Norton, who broke his jaws during the fight.
- Ali got his revenge against Frazer in a rematch on January 28, 1974 at ‘Madison Square Garden. The fight was unanimously awarded to Ali.
- Ali fought George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire on October 30, 1974 for title of ’Heavyweight champion.’ The bout was nicknamed as ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Against all odds Ali won the bout by knockout.
- Ali’s tactics called ‘Rope-A-Dope’ increasing angered Foreman and also tired him. Later Foreman admitted that, ‘Ali outthought me and outfought me.’
- The movie ‘Rocky’ by Sylvester Stallone was out of inspiration from Ali’s bout with Chuck Wepner. Ali was stunned with knockdown in the ninth round by Wepner. Ali went on to win the bout by knockout in the fifteenth round.
- Ali fought Frazer for the third time in Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975. The bout known as ‘Thrilla in Manila’ was fought in intensely hot condition. Ali won the bout by Technical Knockout as Frazer’s eyes were swollen with cuts.
- Ali and Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki participated in an exhibition bout in ‘Tokyo.’ Ali was badly injured.
- In September, 1977 after his bout with Earnie Shavers which he won, his long time doctor Ferdie Pacheco quit Ali’s camp. His advice for Ali to retire base on ‘The New York State Athletic Commission’ medical report was rebuffed.
- When Ali won a rematch against Leon Spinks, on July 27, 1979 at New Orleans, he became the first heavyweight champion to win the crown three times. The match also set a record for the attendance.
- Ali returned to ring from his semi retirement on October 2, 1980 to fight Larry Holmes. The fight was a mismatch due to his failing health. Ali’s camp stopped the fight in the eleventh round. The only fight Ali lost by knockout.
- Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Syndrome in the year 1984. He started to devote his life for charity organization.
- In 1991, during the Gulf war he mediated with the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for the release of American hostages in Baghdad.
- He was a special guest of United Nation to Kabul, Afghanistan as messenger of peace.
- Ali was made the Honorary Freeman of Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, when he visited on September 1, 2009. His great-grandfather Abe Grady was from Ennis before emigrating to U.S.A.
- Ali one among seven guest, who escorted the Olympic Flag before cauldron lighting during the ‘2012 London Olympic.’
- Ali has seven daughters and two sons and had been married four times. His daughter Laila is also a well known boxer.
- Ali had defeated every Heavy weight fighter of his era. He has the distinction of being awarded maximum number of ‘Fighter of the Year’ by ‘Ring Magazine.’
- The ‘BBC’ in its annual ‘BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award’ 1999, produced special version on Ali and voted him ‘Sports Personality of the Century.’
- The ‘Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame’ on September 13, 1999, named Ali ‘Kentucky Athlete of the Century.’
- Ali accepted the nation’s highest civilian award from President Bush on January 8, 2005. He was also awarded later that year ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ at a White House Ceremony.
- As a tribute to Ali, a ‘Muhammad Ali Museum and Cultural Centre’ was opened on November 19, 2005, highlighting his values.
- The ‘Muhammad Ali effect’ is a term used in Psychology when people are asked to compare their Intelligence and moral with others.
- Ali acted in the role of Gideon Jackson in the movie “Freedom Road” made in 1978. He also wrote a book titled “The Greatest: My Own Story.”
- Ali retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record, defending his title 19 times, with 37 knockouts.
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