| Muhammad
Ali and his "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" style of
fighting dominated the world of heavyweight boxing for a decade and a half.
Born in Louisville, KY as Cassius Clay on January 18, 1942, Ali was raised
in a middle-class neighborhood, the eldest of two sons, he began taking
boxing lessons at the age of twelve, after his bicycle was stolen. In addition,
a police officer influenced Ali to start training. In high school, Ali became
a very successful amateur boxer. Out of 108 matches, he won 100 and earned
six Kentucky and two national Golden Glove championships. On March, 25,
1965, in Lewiston, ME., Ali fought against Sonny Liston, for the second
time, for the heavyweight championship. Within the first round, Liston was
knocked out with a powerful punch. During the "Rumble in the Jungle",
in Kinshasa, Zaire, Ali faced George Foreman for the championship belt.
The fight ended when Ali knocked Foreman out in the 8th round.
Muhammad Ali earned a reputation as a man dedicated to his goals and
beliefs. After an illustrious boxing career—including three world
heavyweight boxing championships—Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's
disease, a condition probably caused by the blows he received from opponents.
Ali remains one of the most famous and popular athletes of the twentieth
century.
Muhammad Ali's record:
61 fights: won 56, 37 by KO; lost 5, 1 by KO
THE BOY IS BAD!!
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