Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” - Muhammad Ali

(Muhammad Ali)

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Clay Jr. on January 17th, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. In 1954 Ali made his made his amateur boxing debut.

(Clay in 1954)

He won six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union national title, and the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

(Clay (Middle) in 1960)

Clay's amateur record was 100 wins with 5 losses. Also in 1960 he made his professional debut. In 1962 Clay met Malcolm X.

(Clay (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

The 1963 fight between Clay and Doug Jones was called the fight of the year. Clay vocally belittled his opponents and vaunted his abilities. In 1964 Clay faced Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. Clay won the fight and became the heavyweight champion. Clay became at age 22 the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion.

(Ali (Standing) and Sonny Liston (Laying down))

Clay then changed his name to “Cassius X” after joining the Nation of Islam. In 1965 X had a rematch with Liston where X won by KO. He then changed his name to “Muhammad Ali”. Also in 1965 Ali defended his title against former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. In 1966 Ali was drafted in the Army. He indicated that he would refuse to serve, commenting to the press, "I ain't got nothing against no Viet Cong; no Viet Cong never called me nigger.”

(Ali being arrested for not registering into the draft)

Ali traveled to Canada and Europe and won championship bouts. He then moved back to the US. In 1967 Ali fought Ernie Terrell. Terrell was billed as Ali's toughest opponent since Liston. Ali won the match while taunting Terrell over, Terrell’s refusal to call Ali by his new name. Ali then was stripped of his title due to refusal of entering the draft. His boxing license was also suspended by the state of New York. He was sentenced to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He paid a bond and remained free while the verdict was being appealed. Ali could not fight from 1967 to 1970. His conviction was overturned in 1971. The 1st fight between Ali and Joe Frazier was named the fight of the century. Ali lost the fight making it his 1st professional defeat.

(Ali (Right) and Joe Frazier (Left))

In 1973 Ali got his jaw broken during a fight causing the 2nd loss of his career. In 1974 Ali had a rematch with Frazier. Ali won the fight. Ali then had a fight against Heavyweight champion George Foreman in Zaire called “Rumble in the Jungle”. Ali beat Foreman making Ali the Heavyweight champion again.

(Ali (Standing) and George Foreman (Laying down))

In 1975 Ali had another fight with Frazier called the “Thrilla in Manilla”. Ali won by TKO.

(Ali (Right) and Joe Frazier (Left))

In 1976 Ali fought Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium. Ali won the fight. Also in 1975 Ali converted to Sunni Islam. In 1978 Ali faced Leon Spinks.

(Ali (Right) Leon Spinks (Left))

In 1979 Ali announced his retirement but it was short lived. In 1980 Ali fought Larry Holmes and Ali lost the fight horribly to Holmes. In 1981 Ali had his final fight against Trevor Berbick and Ali lost.

(Ali (Right) and Trevor Berbick (Left))

Also in 1981 Ali talked a man out of committing suicide. In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Syndrome. In 1985 Ali was a guest referee at Wrestlemania I.

(Ali (Right) with Hulk Hogan (Left))

In 1983 Ali met with President Reagan. In 1991 Ali went to Iraq and spoke to Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of US hostages.

(Ali (Left) and Saddam Hussein (Right))

In 1996 He lit the Summer Olympic flame.

(Ali in 1996)

In 2001 Will Smith portrayed Muhammad Ali in the movie Ali.

(Ali (Left) and Will Smith (Right))

In 2002 Ali went to Afghanistan as a UN messenger of peace. In 2012 Ali was a titular bearer of the Olympic Flag during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

(Ali (Left) and his wife (Right) in 2012)

In 2014 Ali was hospitalized for Pneumonia. In 2015 he was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection. On June 3rd 2016 Muhammad Ali died due to septic shock in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. He was 74 years old.

(Ali in 2016)

Today is his 75th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Muhammad Ali.

Videos of Muhammad Ali

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DkLQiijQos  “Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) Wins Olympic Boxing Gold - Rome 1960 Olympics”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0-GGR17tG4  “Elijah Muhammad and Muhammad Ali @ Harlem, June 28, 1964”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzWynvBLJ4I  “Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston 1965”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFMyrWlZ68  “Muhammad Ali on the Vietnam War-Draft”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLWYnTFz9PE  “Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier I: Round 15 (Knockdown.)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0qsQmZ2TLg  “Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II (Highlights)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVseoF1-p3M  “Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman (Highlights)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R6WSAJGS5A  “The Thrilla in Manila HD”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6UTDI0DC1g  “The Racialist Views of Muhammad Ali ~ Interview 1971”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_--4_zeUBQY  “Muhammad Ali makes his presence felt at WrestleMania I”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc3kPvA_PQA  “Muhammad Ali & Will Smith Talk About Islam & 9 11”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipn_UIy0Vs  “Muhammad Ali Makes A Special Appearance At The Opening Ceremony - London 2012 Olympics”