The Champ Is Here: Muhammad Ali

The Champ Is Here

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was an activist and American professional boxer, however many knew him as the legendary Muhammad Ali. Clay altered his name to Ali after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964. Ali had a sister and four brothers. Clay lived in a time when racial segregation was at its peak. After being denied water due to his skin color and the murder of Emmett Till, Clay and a friend vandalized a local rail yard to take out their frustration. Clay made his amateur boxing debut in 1954 against local amateur boxer Ronnie O'Keefe. He won by split decision.

Clay was introduced to boxing by boxing coach and Louisville police officer Joe E. Martin, who came across Clay furious over his bike being stolen. Clay told Martin

He was able to dodge punches with his head movement and footwork. Ali’s footwork was incredibly sharp that it was problematic for opponents to cut down the ring and corner Ali against the ropes.

Ali habitually taunted and enticed his opponents such as Liston, Frazier, and Foreman before the fight and often during the session itself. Ali said Frazier was "too dumb to be a champion," that he would beat Liston "like his Daddy did," that Patterson was a "rabbit," and that Terrell was an "Uncle Tom" for declining to call him by his name and preferred to call him Cassius Clay. Ali fueled Liston's anger and boldness before their first fight; one writer commented that "the most brilliant battle strategy in boxing history was invented by a teenager who had graduated 376 in a class of

In 2005, President George W. Bush awarded Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ali went on to open the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Ali was known as an inspiring, controversial, and diverging symbol both inside and outside the ring.

Within a few years, things began taking a turn for the worse. Ali was hospitalized for a severe urinary tract infection after battling pneumonia in early 2015. He has hospitalized again at the beginning of June 2016 for what was reportedly a respiratory issue. The respected athlete passed away on June 3, 2016, at a Phoenix, Arizona facility. Ali was with his fourth wife, Yolanda, whom he had been married to since 1986. The couple had one son, Asaad. However, Ali had several children from previous relationships, including daughter Laila Ali, who shadowed his footsteps by becoming a champion boxer.

Former President Clinton shared his thoughts on how Ali originated