Muhammad Ali “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” is one of the most iconic boxing sayings, said by one of the most iconic boxers. If you say the Name Muhammad Ali most people would know who he is, but little is known about his life. He was a very influential man because of his athletic career and took many stances on controversial issues such as civil rights. He had an amazing boxing career and has been an idol for most of the famous modern boxers. He changed the sport of boxing in a very major way, from money to fighting technique. Cassius Marcellus Ali Jr. was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky (Biography.com). His start to boxing is very interesting because it was at a very young age that he was discovered. At the …show more content…
In 1960, Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team, and traveled to Rome, Italy, to compete. Weighing 236 pounds and being 6’3” Ali was a very intimidating opponent but, his size isn't what he used. Ali was best known for his amazing food work and fast reflexes, dodging punches left and right (Time). After winning his first three bouts, Ali defeated Zbigniew Pietrzykowski from Poland to win the light heavyweight gold medal. After winning his first 19 fights, including 15 knockouts, Ali received his first title shot on February 25, 1964, against reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970). This shocked people because he was just a boy from a small town. Many people also didn't like the fact that an african american was receiving this much attention. Although he arrived in Miami Beach, Florida, a 7-1 underdog, the 22-year-old Ali relentlessly taunted Liston before the fight, promising to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and predicting a knockout (Time). When Liston failed to answer the bell at the start of the seventh round, Ali was indeed crowned heavyweight champion of the world. In the ring after the fight, the new champ roared, “I am the greatest!”. Another legendary Ali fight, against undefeated heavyweight champion George Foreman, took place in 1974. Billed as the "Rumble in the Jungle," the bout was organized by promoter Don King and held in …show more content…
Ali regularly took stances on controversial topics such as the Vietnam war and civil rights issues. Ali was also a follower of Malcolm x and islam. This is why he later changed his name to “Muhammad” in 1964. Ali had the honor of lighting the cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 1999 Ali was voted the BBC’s “Sporting Personality of the Century,” and Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Century.” Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a 2005 White House ceremony, and in the same year the $60 million Muhammad Ali Center, a nonprofit museum and cultural center focusing on peace and social responsibility, opened in Louisville.He always wanted to give back to the community “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” he rarely let his fame control him. Things began taking a turn for the worse within a few years. In early 2015, Ali was hospitalized for a severe urinary tract infection after having battled pneumonia. He was hospitalized again in early June 2016 for what was reportedly a respiratory issue (ESPN) . The revered athlete passed away on the evening of June 3, 2016, at a Phoenix, Arizona facility. Universally regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, Ali's stature as a legend continues to grow even after his death. He is celebrated not only for his