Muhammad Ali Research Paper

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., is one of the most iconic and important figures in both sports and history. Known for his legendary boxing career and activism in the Civil Rights movement, Muhammad Ali is one of the most important figures of the past century. For his achievements inside and outside the ring, Muhammad Ali is an indisputable and impeccable candidate for the African American Hall of Fame. Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay on January 17th, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, was destined for greatness. When Cassius was 12 years old, a police officer and gym owner named Joe Elsby Martin offered to help him file a police report after his bike was stolen during his childhood. After helping him with his

Another 2 figures in Muhammad Ali’s life were Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad. In 1962, Ali joined the NOI (Nation of Islam) and followed the leadership of Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, where Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. abandoned his slave name and adopted the name Muhammad Ali after the prophet of Islam. This was a symbol of identity and pride in his African heritage and gave him strength in boxing and religious faith. A few years before this, Ali started training in boxing at Martin’s gym, where Martin pushed him to his limits, until 1960, when Ali was invited to the Rome Olympics. Ali excelled at the Olympic boxing event, securing the gold medal in the light heavyweight division after defeating the three-time European champion Zbigniew Pietrzykowski. This victory catapulted him to stardom and marked the beginning of his legendary boxing career. This was only fortified when, in 1964, Ali beat the world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston with his boxing style. This created one of the most dominant reigns in boxing history, where, using his lightning-fast footwork, agility, and endurance, Ali was able to defend his title nineteen

With the guidance of Islam of Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X, Ali’s powerful voice was used to advocate for racial and social justice and equality. Ali was vocal about his beliefs on race, religion, and his opposition to the Vietnam War. His refusal to be drafted was based on the principle that the Viet Cong had not wronged him personally, and how it contradicted his beliefs led to significant backlash and controversy. Ali impacted the United States by challenging white supremacy, in a sport dominated by whites, and climbed his way to the top. He fought against racism and segregation and helped in the civil rights movement. But Ali did not just impact the United States, but the globe, gaining him a position as a Goodwill Ambassador and United Nations Ambassador for Peace in his later years. When Ali was removed from his World Boxing title and banned from the sport for three years because of his anti-war and anti-draft beliefs, he was a humanitarian and philanthropist. He used the money he had won from fights and donated it to