World famous boxer Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky in United States of America. His father was a painter. Ali’s mother, Odessa Grady Clay, worked as a domestic servant during the time of financial trouble. He started to learn boxing when he was twelve. His childhood was full of struggle.
Muhammad Ali did his schooling from Central High School in Louisville. Ali won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the Summer Olympics in 1960. That summer Olympics were held in Rome, Italy. He had experienced the racial discrimination that brought lasting impression on his mind. Later he converted to Islam.
On 29th October 1960 he defeated Tunney Hunsaker and after it he defeated various famous professional boxers. At the age of 22 he became the world heavyweight champion after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. He kept his winning journey on by defeating Floyd Patterson (22 November 1965) ,George Chuvalo (29th March 1966) , Henry Cooper (21 May 1966 ) , Brian London (6 August 1966), Karl Mildenberger (10 September 1966) , Cleveland Williams (14 November 1966), Ernie Terrell (6 February 1967), Zora Folley (22 March 1967), Jerry Quarry ( 26 October 1970) , Oscar Bonavena (7 December 1970) , Joe Frazier, (8 March 1971), Jimmy Ellis (26 July 1971), Buster Mathis (17 November), Jurgen Blin (26 December 1971), Mac Foster (1 April 1972), Joe Bugner (14 February 1973) , Ken Norton ( 10 September 1972), etc.
He was nicknamed ‘the greatest’ by the sports fraternity. He won the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. Muhammad Ali
became the first boxer to win it three times. Apart from it, he successfully defended the world heavyweight championship 19 times.
He was awarded with various awards and accolades including ‘Athlete of the Century’, ‘Sports Personality of the Century’, by BBC, ‘World Sportsman of the Century’, and ‘Kentuckian of the Century’.
Muhammad Ali retired from boxing in 1981. After he worked for society and became a global figure.
He was a thorough fighter who stood against discrimination and partiality. He was put into prison for five years as he refused to induct into the army of United States in Vietnam. It costs him his livelihood and title as well. His boxing license was cancelled, and he was banned for many years.
Muhammad Ali was also a musician like his father who had great interest in dancing, acting and music. Ali was nominated for Grammy awards two times.
He also wrote a few books including his autobiographies namely ‘The Greatest: My own Story’ and ‘The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life’s Journey’. This greatest legend and boxing icon of our time died on June 3, 2016, due to septic shock at the age of 74 in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States of America.