Muhammad Ali was an Olympic gold medalist, heavyweight champion boxer, philanthropist and social activist. He's universally regarded as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. Celebrate the champion's life and contribute your own Memories
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Join MemoriesMemories Team Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His father painted billboards to earn money, while his mother was a housewife.
Memories Team Ali was 12 years old when he was first introduced to boxing. After his bike was stolen, a young Cassius encountered police officer Joe Martin who advised him to channel his rage in boxing instead of revenge. Clay began training with Fred Stoner and completely dedicated himself to boxing. Together they won six Kentucky Golden Gloves title and numerous other medals.
Memories Team After his Olympic triumph, Clay returned to Louisville to begin his professional career. He won his first fight on October 29, 1960. Clay would beat Tunney Hunsaker in a six-round fight.
Memories Team Clay's amateur record was 100 wins with five losses - including 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. Upon returning to his native Louisville, Clay was refused service by a waitress at a "whites-only" restaurant. Disgusted by the racism, he launched his gold medal into the Ohio River. He was later given a replacement medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he lit the torch to start the game.
Memories Team From 1960 to 1963, Clay's professional boxing record was 19–0 - 15 wins from knockout. He defeated boxers such as Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff and Lamar Clark, building a reputation by correctly predicting the round in which he would "finish" his opponent. On February 25, 1964, underdog Cassius Clay, age 22, defeated champion Sonny Liston in a technical knockout to win the world heavyweight boxing crown.
Memories Team Ali met cocktail waitress Sonji Roi in 1964 and the pair got married a month later. By 1966 they were divorced, with Roi's objections to certain Muslim customs believed to have contributed to the breakdown. In total, Muhammad Ali has been married four times and has seven daughters and two sons.
Memories Team On April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the US Army, citing religious reasons for his decision to forgo military service. He was immediately stripped of his heavyweight title and sentenced to five years prison.
Memories Team On August 17, 1967, Ali, 25, married 17-year old Belinda Boyd. After the wedding, she converted to Islam and changed her name to Khalilah Ali. Together they had four children before they divorced in 1977.
Memories Team Ali was still before the courts for refusing to serve in the Vietman War, however he was granted a license to box in Georgia because it was the only state in America without a boxing commission. The loophole saw Ali return to form by stopping Jerry Quarry with a cut after three rounds. Shortly after the fight, the New York State Supreme Court ruled Ali had been unjustly denied a boxing license and he was once again able to fight in New York.
The "Fight of the Century" was the promotional nickname given to the first boxing match between champion Joe Frazier (26-0, 23 KOs) and challenger Muhammad Ali (31-0, 25 KOs). Both fighters were guaranteed purses of $2.5 million each - a record for a single prizefight at the time. Frazier retained the title winning by unanimous decision, with ...
Memories Team Supreme Court reversed conviction of Muhammad Ali for refusing to report for induction into the United States military forces during the Vietnam War. The unanimous decision found that Ali's conscientious objector status was valid.
When Ali fought Ken Norton in 1973, Norton broke Ali's jaw and won by split decision in 12 rounds. The pair had rematch, which Ali saw victorious. Ali's win set up a rematch with Joe Frazier, who lost his title to George Foreman. The bout was held at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 1974. Ali won by unanimous decision after a 12-round fi...
One of the sport's biggest fights pitted World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman against challenger Muhammad Ali. "The Rumble in the Jungle" took place on 30 October 1974, in the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire - now Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ali was a major underdog, with boxing commentators feeling he had reached the end of his pro...
The third and final famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was dubbed the "Thrilla in Manilla". The fight for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World was fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975. Ranked as one of the greatest fights of 20th century, the climax to the b...
Memories Team Muhammad Ali married Veronica Porsche. She was his third wife and one of the four poster girls who had promoted the Rumble in the Jungle. They had two children before divorcing in December 1986.
Memories Team Ali lost the heavyweight title to Leon Spinks in 1978, winning it back the very same year. He announced his retirement a year later.
Memories Team Ali returned to the ring in an attempt to win the heavyweight title for an unprecedented fourth time. He weighed his lightest since his title-winning fight against George Foreman, but was unable to recover his former skills or stamina. Ali's trainer threw in the towel in the 10th round.
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's Syndrome in 1984. The disease is common for those subject to severe head trauma, such as boxers.
Memories Team Muhammad Ali lit the flame at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics opening ceremony.
Memories Team George W. Bush awarded Muhammad Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian award in the US. It recognizes individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
Memories Team Ali was hospitalized in Scottsdale on June 2, 2016, with a respiratory illness. His condition was initially described as fair, but he died the following day from septic shock. Ali was aged 74.
Memories Team It has been four years since Muhammad Ali has passed aged 74. Our Memories Page takes a look at the life and career of the legendary boxer.
Memories Team On February 25, 1964, underdog Cassius Clay defeated champion Sonny Liston with a technical knockout to win the world heavyweight title. The 22-year-old announced his decision to become a Black Muslim and changed his name to Muhammad Ali after the fight. Join for free and share your Memories: https://www.memories.net/