MOHAMMED ALI, HIS LIFE AS THE "GREATEST".
Ever since the world heavyweight champion passed on less that 48
hours ago, tributes have been pouring to the family from friends and
well wishers with the US president Barrack Obama leading the tributes.
As we continue to remember the greatest boxer ever to grace the
ring, let's find out a little more about his life.
The "peoples champion" was born originally as Marcel Clay jr. in
January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA to a humble orthodox
family as the elder of two boys. His father was Cassius Marcellus
Clay. He was first directed into boxing by a police officer and
boxing. He made his boxing debut in 1954 in the amateur category,
winning a total of ten titles in that category, including the light
heavyweight gold medal during the 1960 summer Olympics. His record in
the amateur category was a total of 100 wins and five losses.
On October 29, 1960 Clay made a banging professional debut,
clearing off a six round match against Tunney Hunsaker. By 1964 he had
a record of 19 unbeaten wins under his belt, 15 from knock outs.
Beating a host of boxers including Jim Robinson, Henry Cooper, Doug
Jones and Archie Moore. The toughest during this period was the fight
Jones on Jones' home turf in New York.
Clay was a champion who was very good at belittling his opponents
and boosting his abilities vocally.(He was a loud boxer). Until he
gained fame, his behaviour continued to irk fans of the, who rained
boos and even debris during his fights.
By 1963, he was already a major contender for the heavyweight
title held by Sonny Liston, an intimidating fighter witha criminal
past and links to a notorious mob. The fight was held on Feb 25, 1964.
And despite the fear that should have been created by the destruction
of former heavyweight champion-Floyd Patterson by Liston, Clay kept
on throwing insults at Liston. After a fight that was full of upsets
and tension, during which clay had to fight with partially blinded
eyes,he was declared the winner when Liston refused too answer the
bell for the seventh round.
Clay became at age 22, the youngest to grab the title from a
reigning champion, up until 1986 when Mike Tyson broke the record at
age 20.
Soon after the Liston match, Clay joined an islamic movement
(Nation Of Islam) and changed his name to Mohammed Ali. He beat Liston
again in a rematch in 1965. On November 22, 1965, Ali defended his
title against former title champion- Floyd Patterson, after 12 rounds
the match was ended on technical knockout. Patterson sustained a major
injury during the fight.
Shortly after he was stripped of his WBA title for joining the
Nation of Islam, Mohammed Ali got his arranged fight with the WBA
heavyweight champion- Ernie Turnell sanctioned because he refused to
serve in the Vietnam war. In defending his decision, he said: "I ain't
got nothing against no Viet Cong, he never did call me a nigger".
Alli travelled out to Europe and Canada, winning many bouts. He
returned to the US to fight Cleveland Williams in Nov of 1966.
Cleveland's near range shooting by Policeman had a serious effect on
him and ensured Ali overwhelmed him easily. Winning the third round on
knockout.
Ali fought Turnell in February of the following year. It was a
fight that many defined as full of cruelty, because in his bid to
humiliate Turnell for calling him his "slave name"- Clay, he
deliberately prolonged the match with bloody, taunting jabs. All the
while shouting-"what's name uncle Tom!".
After a title defence on March 22 the same year, Ali was stripped
of his titles and his boxing licence seized for refusing to join the
army during the vietnam war. He was sentenced to five years jail term
for "draft evasion" in June that same year. His licence was seized in
all states and his passport too. And so for three years plus( march
1967-Oct 1970) his fighting career was inactive.
In 1971, the supreme court overturned the sentence, this followed
by Atlanta state releasing his licence and then the New York Boxing
Commission restoring his licence. His first fight at his comeback was
against Jerry Quarry, which he won after just three rounds.
On March 8, 1971, in a fight still touted as a fight of the
century, Ali lost his first professional battle against Joe Fraizer
the world heavyweight champion. But the defeat set the stage for a
fight with heavyweight champion, George Foreman in Zaire, Kinsasha on
Oct 30, 1974. A bout nicknamed, "Rumble in the Jungle". Before the
match, analysts showed that Foreman had caused so much destruction on
Ali's two toughest opponents Fraizer and and Ken Norton in previous
ring battles. Still, Ali was his usual self, confident and taunting
his opponent before the match. Halfway through the match, Ali
dropped a tiring Foreman on the mat. Regaining the title by knockout
yet again.
Following that Fight, Ali engaged numerous opponents, including
an agreed third bout with Fraizer, considered to be one the most
bloody of Ali's fight. The match ended when Fraizer's trainer refused
to allow him answer the bell. Giving a spent Ali, TKO.
Alli had many other bouts after including one with a japanese
martial artist and a second re bout with Norton which he won by
contested decision.
Ali retired for the first time in 1971, shortly after money
drove him back to a bout with Larry Holmes in 1980. The bout was super
horrific and ended in Ali's first professional knockout. Despite pleas
to retire, Ali still had one last fight in 1981. By this time vocal
stuttering and shaking had set in. In 1984, Ali was di agonised of
Parkinson's syndrome. But he still remained active, he even once
participated as a guest referee on wrestlemania.
In 1991, Ali published an oral history of his life, the same year
he travelled to Iraq to negotiate the release of American hostages
held during Saddam Hussein's regime. In 1996, he lighted the summer
olympic torch for that year.
In recent years, Ali's health had been on the decline before his
death in 2016. Between 2013 and 2014, he was hospitalised several
times. Most times on serious respiratory problems. He was hospitalised
in scottsdale on June 2, 2016 with a respiratory illness and was put
on life support. He died late on friday June 3, his family
spokesperson announced he died from septic shock.
Ali was married four times and has seven sons and two
daughters(by marriage). His most recent wife is Yolanda williams who
has a son- Asad Amin, whom they adopted. Against his ideas about
female boxing, his daughter Laila has taken in his footsteps and she's
doing well. He also had two daughters from extra marital
relationships.
