The One and Only Muhammad Ali
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., more popularly known as Muhammad Ali, was one of the most iconic sports figures of his generation. The name Muhammad means “the one worthy of praise” while Ali is a name of an important figure in Shia view, a branch of Islam. People also call Muhammad Ali “the greatest,” “the people’s champion,” and “the Louisville lip.”
He was a professional boxer whose influence extends beyond the ring. He first became interested in boxing when a police officer witnessed him get angered by a thief who was stealing his bicycle.He wanted to beat up the thief, but the police officer told him he needed to learn how to box first.
Ali’s boxing style is characterized by his superior hand speed, excellent reflexes, jabs from unpredictable angles, strong footwork, and constant movement around the ring. As an amateur boxer, Ali’s boxing career took off in 1954. He bagged six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, and an Amateur Athletic Union national title. In 1960, he won the Light Weight gold medal in the Summer Olympics held in Rome. As a professional boxer, his career began to flourish in 1960 when he won the match against a professional boxer named Tunney Hunsaker.
The boxing era during Ali’s time is often called the golden age of heavyweight boxing during which he defeated all top heavyweights. He was a three-time heavyweight champion. He received numerousacclamations from major sports magazines. He was also an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. On top of all these, a street was also named after him—the Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville, Kentucky.
Outside the ring, Ali was famous for his defiant stance against the Vietnam War. He cited that war is against the teachings of Quran. For this reason, he refused to serve in the army. His defiance to step forward during his induction into the Armed Forces in 1967 led to his arrest and his loss of his boxing license and title. Knowing what were at stake, Ali’s resistance became an inspiration to many African Americans including Martin Luther King, Jr.
On June 3, 2016, the world was saddened by the death of the great fighter Muhammad Ali. People from around the world mourned his death. American presidents, celebrities, other known American personalities, his Muslim brothers and sisters, and his fans paid their respects to the fallen American icon.
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