Muhammad Ali was a legendary boxer who became the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion
Muhammad Ali
@Black Boxers, Life Achievements and Childhood
Jan 17, 1942
Biography
Personal Details
- Birthday: January 17, 1942
- Died on: June 3, 2016
- Nationality: American
- Famous: African American Athletes, African Americans, Black Boxers, Activists, Civil Rights Activists, Boxers
- City/State: Kentucky
- Spouses: Yolonda Williams (m. 1986), Belinda Boyd (m. 1967–1977), Sonji Roi (m. 1964–1966), Veronica Porsche Ali (m. 1977–1986)
- Siblings: Rahman Ali
Muhammad Ali born at
Louisville
Unsplash
Birth Place
Ali married four times in his lifetime. His partners were Sonji Roi, Belinda Boyd, Veronica Porsche and Yolanda. Overall, he had seven daughters and two sons from his alliances.
Unsplash
Personal Life
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984. The disease was mainly a result of the head injuries he received during boxing.
Unsplash
Personal Life
He died of respiratory complications on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S, at the age of 74.
Unsplash
Personal Life
Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr and Odessa O'Grady. He was the eldest of the two sons of this couple. His father earned a living by painting billboards and signs.
Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life
Interestingly, it was a Louisville police officer who changed the fate of young Clay. The latter was enraged at a thief who robbed his bicycle and told police officer, Joe Martin that he wished to whip the robber. It was then that Martin suggested him to learn boxing first.
Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life
Martin served as his early coach, teaching him the technicalities of the game. In the last four years of his amateur career, he was trained by cutman Chuck Bodak.
Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life
In his first ever fight which took place in 1954 he won by a split decision. Following this, he won the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light heavyweight class.
Unsplash
Career
In 1959, he won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union's national title for the light-heavyweight division.
Unsplash
Career
His outstanding achievements in his amateur years won him a seat in the US Olympic boxing team in 1960. He won the first three bouts to face Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland. Crushing the latter, he earned his first gold at the event. The Olympic win garnered him a ‘hero’ status.
Unsplash
Career
His heroic wins, majority of which were through knockouts, made him the top contender for Sunny Liston’s title. As such, a fight was scheduled between the two in February 1964 in Miami.
Unsplash
Career
While Liston was the reigning champion, Clay seemed to be the underdog at the event, more so because his last fights against Jones and Cooper displayed lack of skills.
Unsplash
Career
He was honored with a number of titles including, ‘The Greatest’, ‘Fighter of the Year’, ‘Sportsman of the Year’, Sportsman of the Century and ‘Sports Personality of the Century’.
Unsplash
Awards & Achievements
He was the proud recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received in in 2005 by then President George W. Bush.
Unsplash
Awards & Achievements
He was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is even honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.
Unsplash
Awards & Achievements