Muhammad Ali: The Man, the Myth, and the Legend Muhammad Ali is one of the most decorated athletes in American history. For decades he dominated the boxing world going against any and every opposition that came before him. His stamina and charisma has yet to be matched by any athlete since him. The Vietnam War drove many Americans into the vicious battle. Many served faithfully but Muhammad Ali refused to serve his country in that way. His career was threatened and he was on the verge of being named one of the great villains of American history simply because he refused to fight in a war that his religion did not believe in and that most Americans would find in bad taste just years later. Muhammad Ali started off as Cassius Clay of …show more content…
Muhammad Ali’s career began after he became the owner of a prized red Schwinn bicycle. Ali spent his first day of ownership riding around with his buddy showing off his new possession. They soon found themselves getting free food from a merchant’s exhibition. After the event was over Ali soon realized that his prized bike had been stolen and confronted an officer at the basement of the local boxing gym (Edmonds 18). The man that he ran into was Joe Martin, a police officer whose actual passion was boxing. He offered to give the young lad boxing lessons so he could “whup” the person who took his bike. Ali initially refused but eventually decided that he would take the lessons after he saw some of the kids Martin had taught on television (Edmonds 18-19). As Ali grew as a man so did his skills in the ring. He danced around opponents and countered their attacks with vicious assaults on their openings (Edmonds 43). He faced many dangerous opponents who tested his will and ability to fight in the ring but none more than Sonny Liston. Liston was one of the few people who actually gave Ali a challenge in a boxing match and some would go far enough to even say that he was his rival, at least for the early part of his career. Muhammad Ali won against Liston in a seven round fight that ended with Liston saying that he could no longer fight the young Ali. As this happened Ali’s
Muhammad Ali was a great boxer he was born January 17, 1942. He won the heavy weight champion he also went to jail because he did not want to service for his country so he was put in jail for five years. The reason why Muhammad Ali started to fight was because some stole his bike and Ali went to the police and the police told him that he needs to know how to fight so he started to train Ali and at 12 he knew that he had to fight. Muhammad won his first fight in 1954. In 1956 Ali to go win the golden gloves. Ali fought for the heavy weight a British champion. In 1963 Ali knocked out Sonny Liston and in 1964 became the heavy weight champion.
In Conclusion, Muhammad Ali is a fascinating person because he stood up for what he believed in, known worldwide, and achieved a lifetime of accomplishments. Muhammad Ali was not only a legend at boxing but inspiring to many people. Muhammad was known as an inspiring, controversial, and polarizing figure both inside and outside the
Muhammad Ali was a role model for a lot of people, he even was looked up to after he retired in 1978 (Owens 128). He was a great leader in this decade, he helped people by providing someone to look up to and someone to try to be like. Ali’s actions on and off the ring were noticed, people would change their ways because of him. Like most athletes today Ali inspired people by the littlest things, He would do something good and helpful and people in the community would do the same. Ali also has inspired athletes today with his fighting styles and inspirational messages. Muhammad Ali has ruled on and out of the ring in many ways, he will always be remembered in boxing history for forever.
Muhammad Ali was a boxer because of his prominent role as a Civil Rights Activist. He stood up for what he believed
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. later known as Muhammad Ali, was a black boxer, and was proud of it. Many African Americans were ashamed of their color, but Ali was different. He was the first boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship 3 different times. He had a great personality and was liked by the people. During his life, he made big decisions that changed the course of his life completely. Muhammad Ali's journey through life was a great inspiration for African American people, but Ali himself deserves the admiration of everyone.
The significance of Muhammad Ali’s response to the Vietnam war was impeccable, because he showed others what's it is like to take a stand against something that you don't believe in. Muhammad Ali did the impossible by fighting against the system. Ali was brave and took a challenge that others would not execute, regardless of the repercussions he would take on.They tried to black ball him but failed to do so because of his willing to get back up. Muhammad Ali was one of the few African-American athletes who stood up for his community and who spoke against the Vietnam War. That is why he will always be great and why people call him “The Greatest.” He stayed true to his religion and did not let politics over law his beliefs.
Cassius Clay, now known as Muhammad Ali, stated, “If I thought going to war would bring freedom, justice, and equality to the 22 million African Americans they wouldn't have to draft me, I would join tomorrow (Dellinger)” It is clear in this quote that Ali wanted nothing more than to avoid war unless it meant something important to him. At that time in history there was a lot going on in the world, and one of those things was Muhammad Ali refusing to go to the draft. Cassius Clay (now known as Muhammad Ali), an African American boxing champion who lived most of his young life during the Civil Rights movement, refused to join the
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. or commonly known as Muhammad Ali, Was one of the greatest boxers who ever lived. Ali thrived in a world that was run by whites. Ali figured out at a young age that he is going to face a lot of problems in his life. Ali inspired people of all races to keep persevering through life and to help others. Not only was Muhammad Ali a revolutionary fighter he was also a revolutionary political figure. Ali was an enormous influence on the way America is today, by fighting battles inside and outside of the ring.
Handsome, weight champion, muslim, freely spoken, racial rights leaders, all exemplifies the powerful Muhammad Ali. A man whose story has a positive impact on americans lives today and back during the civil rights movement. “Muhammed Ali: The World’s Champion” by John Tessitore is an autobiography that is written to tell all the obstacles of Muhammed Ali. The adventures annals of Muhammed Ali begins from growing up and discovering that boxing was his outlet from racism, to dropping out of school, to becoming muslim, also being the voice of the public people, to lastly being coming one of the most known African American Boxing world champion. Thousands world wide then and now see Muhammad Ali as an tragic hero due to his resistance of entering the war, going to jail, and returning back to the ring even more powerful than before.
Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer during the 1960’s and 70’s, and was the heavyweight champion for many years. Muhammad Ali was born with the name Cassius Clay Jr. on January 17th, 1942, but changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he converted to Islam. He was the son of Cassius Clay Sr. and Odessa Clay. He was 6’3” tall and fought at the weight of 210 pounds, in the heavyweight division. He started boxing when he was only 12 years old, and won his first fight by split decision, and won the Golden Gloves Tournament for amateurs when he was 14. Ali also competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics and won a gold medal for boxing at only 18 years old. He became the heavyweight champion of the world in 1963 when he beat Sonny Liston who held a record
Throughout history there have been many influential people who have lived in this country. Some were politicians, some were actors, and some were even athletes. One such man was a gifted boxer named Muhammad Ali. He made his mark as an amateur, then as a professional. "The Greatest" was the self-proclaimed nickname of Ali, but so many people agreed that it stuck. He went through trials and tribulations in his life, which make him a historic icon. Muhammad Ali is known for being "The Greatest" boxer of all time, but unlike other athletes he is remembered for his out of the ring actions as well as his athletic accomplishments.
Muhammad Ali had an outstanding record of 56 wins, 5 loses, and had 37 knockouts even to some opponents treat people thought he would never beat like the big bear AKA Sunny Liston.
Muhammad Ali was an American boxer and activist. He was born in Kentucky on 17 January 1967, and died on 3 June 2016. Muhammad Ali started taking boxing lessons after his bicycle was stolen when he was 12 years old. At the age of 18, he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division. He won three world-cup heavyweight championships. He fought sixty-one times and only lost five times. He followed that dream for 30 years, and became one of the greatest boxers of all time, and Muhammad Ali was active in the civil rights movement in many ways. For instance, in the civil rights movement, Muhammad Ali changed his name because he thought that Cassius Clay was a “Slave name,” and he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. In 1960, shortly after winning the heavy weight title, he changed his religion, and converted to Islam. Muhammad Ali joined other leaders in the civil rights movement, such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King to help in the Black Community. Muhammad Ali fought for what he believed in and impacted the civil rights movement such as changed his name, religion, drafted into the Vietnam war and he tried to make the black community equal to the white
Muhammad Ali did a lot of important things in American History. He was a famous boxer also a arch believer of religious freedom and racial justice. Ali’s original name was Cassius Clay. He was born January 17,1942 in Louisville, KY. Muhammad Ali devoted his life to humanitarian in work, putting his name to many initiatives for peace and humanitarian aid. Ali was also a part of Black History.
Cassius clay, one of the world’s most distinguished boxers, was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 7, 1942. Clays work ethic was apparent even in the early years of his life. As a child, he raced the school bus to school each morning. His friends would wave to him as the lead fluctuated based on the school bus’ stops. This work ethic extended to the classroom. Because of a learning disability, Clay had to work extra hard in school to not fall behind. Clay grew up with racial segregation all around him. These injustices sparked a passion in him to change the way people viewed African Americans: “I wanted to show that color didn’t matter”(Muhammad Ali: An American Legend). Clay’s boxing career began because of an incident when he was 12 years old. He and a friend rode their bikes to the Columbia Auditorium for The Louisville Home Show. When they were ready to go home, Clay discovered that his bike was stolen. Filled with rage, Clay wanted to retaliate. He found police officer, Joe Martin, who told him, “You better learn how to fight before you start challenging people that you’re gonna whoop” (Hauser 18). Martin became his coach, and although Clay never found the thief, he found a love of boxing that would continue throughout his life. Between the ages of 12 and 18, Clay