Clay made his professional debut on October 29, 1960, winning a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker. From then until 1963, Clay amassed a record of 19-0 with 15 wins by knockout. He defeated boxers such as Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, and Donnie Fleeman. Clay went on to defeat famous boxer Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion at the age of 22. Clay and Liston met up for their rematch in May the following year. Midway through the first round, Liston was knocked down by one of Ali's punches, later dubbed by the press as the "phantom punch". Referee Jersey Walcott stopped the match shortly afterwards and Ali was declared the winner around 1:52 of the first round.
Despite renowned boxing success, Cassius Clay was doing some spiritual searching and decided to join the Black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, in 1964. At first, he called himself "Cassius X," eventually settling on the name Muhammad Ali. Two years later, Ali started a different kind of fight when he refused to acknowledge his military service after being drafted. He said that he was a practicing Muslim minister, and that his religious beliefs prevented him from fighting in the Vietnam War. In 1967 the U.S. Department of Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious objector status. He was found guilty of refusing to be inducted into the military, but Ali later cleared his name after a lengthy court battle. Professionally, however, Ali did not fare as well. The boxing association took away his title and suspended him from the sport for three and a half years.
Returning to the ring in 1970, Ali won his first bout after his forced hiatus. He knocked out Jerry Quarry in October in Atlanta. The following year, Ali took on Joe Frazier in what has been called the "Fight of the Century." Frazier and Ali went for 15 rounds before Frazier dropped Ali to the ground, scoring a knockout. Ali later beat Frazier in a 1974 rematch. Perhaps one of his toughest fights took place in 1975 when he battled longtime rival Joe Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila" fight. Held in Quezon City, Philippines, the match lasted for more than 14 rounds with each fighter giving it their all. Ali emerged victorious in the end. By the late 1970s, Ali's career had started to decline. He was defeated by Leon Spinks in 1978 and was knocked out by Larry Holmes in 1980. In 1981, Ali fought his last match, losing his heavyweight title to Trevor Berbick. He announced his retirement from boxing the next day.
Muhammad Ali has dedicated most of his time in retirement to philanthropy. In 1984 he announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and opened a Parkinson’s disease center in Phoenix, Arizona. He was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1988, due to his work in under-developed countries. In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. He also opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, that same year. "I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given," he said. Despite the progression of his disease, Ali remains active in public life. He embodies the true meaning of a champion with his tireless dedication to the causes he believes in.
Muhammad left a big mark on American history. He defeated every top heavyweight boxer in his era and helped boxing grow in what is called its golden age. Ali grew up with discrimination toward the blacks present and, later, he spoke out against it and was a civil rights member. He was also a member of the controversial “Black Muslims” and was even given a tour of the United Nations building by Malcolm X. Oddly; he was against integration and stated that all white people hate blacks. Muhammad was one of the many people who protested the Vietnam War and refused to fight as a soldier. He said in response to being asked to fight in the war,” Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” This expresses his hatred toward the Vietnam War, while showing his views toward civil rights.
It is important to study Muhammad Ali presently because he defined culture during his early years. He spearheaded the boxing community and left his mark on the sport for a lifetime. He not only was a boxer, but was a social activist and was a speaker against discrimination and hate toward blacks. By studying Muhammad we can learn what he experienced as a kid and later as a famous Black Muslim. Boxing is dying out and by studying Ali we can learn to appreciate the sport more and maybe even make it more realistic and famous like it was during Muhammad’s time. Muhammad Ali defined the culture of the mid 1900s and was a world renowned boxer.
Why was his conversion to Islam controversial?
Is Parkinson’s disease fatal?
Does he still help developing countries today?
Works Cited:
"Muhammad Ali Biography." Muhammad Ali Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
Myers, Walter Dean. The Greatest: Muhammad Ali. New York: Scholastic, 2001. Print.
Stout, Glenn, and Matt Christopher. Muhammad Ali. New York: Little, Brown and, 2005. Print.
"Welcome to the Muhammad Ali Center! - AliCenter.org." Welcome to the Muhammad Ali Center! - AliCenter.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://alicenter.org/>.
by
rfbasden (student)
