Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali, The greatest heavyweight of all time
By johnnydod, 17th Jan 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutCelebritiesSports
Muhammad Ali is 70 today, we take a potted look at the career of " The greatest heavyweights of all time
- Born from humble beginnings
- He won many titles in his early days
- “Move like a butterfly sting like a bee”
- An amazing list of fights
- Why not write for Wikinut?
Born from humble beginnings
Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Today 17th January 1942 in Louisville Kentucky his father, a billboard and sign painter was named after the 19th century abolitionist and politician of the same name.
Ali was the younger of two boys and from a very early age showed signs of standing up for himself.
He won many titles in his early days
When he was twelve after have his bicycle stolen was heard by a Louisville policeman Joe E. Martin shouting the odds and threatening “when I catch him I’m gonna "whup" that thief”
Martin who was also boxing coach told Ali “he better learn how to box first and took him under his wing.
Ali won under his name Clay
- 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.
All in all Clay's amateur record was an incredible 100 wins and five losses.
“Move like a butterfly sting like a bee”
Returning from the Olympics Clay started his professional career and on October 29, 1960, he won his first professional fight, although his style was officially orthodox he had a very unorthodox style for a heavyweight boxer clay stood at 6-ft, 3-in whereas the normal style for an orthodox heavyweight was to have his hands high to defend the face.
Ali would carry his hands low and relied on his speed of foot and quickness for his defence.
- “Move like a butterfly sting like a bee”
An amazing list of fights
From 1960 to 1963, Ali had 19 wins and no losses, 15 of which were knockouts, he fought and beat fighters as:-
Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, Lamar Clark, Doug Jones and Henry Cooper.
Clay would often predict the round in which he would "finish" his opponents off.
On February 25, 1964 Clay beat Sonny Liston for his first title, he was the youngest boxer ever to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion (Clay was 22 at the time) this record stood until Mike Tyson won the title from Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986.
In the Clay/Liston re-match Clay now fighting under his new name Muhammed Ali, after converting to Islam, knocked Liston out in the first round.
Ali was considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time; his last fight was in 1981 against Trevor Berbick in 1981. Diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome in 1984 now on his 70th birthday Ali still remains an active public figure
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Comments
18th Jan 2012 (#)
Thank you for your page on Muhammad Ali. As well as being a champion boxer, he was a great showman. I enjoyed reading about him, along with the pictures.
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
A great write, and tribute to a great boxer.
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
I just love Muhammed Ali. Happy Birthday to a great man. Well done Johnny, you have given Muhammed Ali a fantastic tribute. As always, thank you for sharing.:)
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
Great Tribute to a Great Boxer by a Great Writer
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
Very well stated , Muhammed Ali is my favorite boxer
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
pacquiao just celebrated his....happy birtday to Ali.... and thanks for this write-up
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
I'm challenging Ali to a boxing match with me, at my own risk..lol
Wonderful update on the Champ, Johnny, and I'd like to greet him Happy Birthday!
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
Now that's a fight I would like to see
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
Everyone has already said everything for me, Johnny. This was a very well-written and illustrated tribute to a true champion. The pictures added the touch that turned a great article into one of sheer perfection.
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18th Jan 2012 (#)
The most beautiful boxer ever - and the most charismatic too.
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
Wonderful article, congrats on the star!! :-)
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
ps I liked this on my facebook page! :-)
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
Thanks so much Bridgitte
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
One of the greatest boxing legends in HIStory....
Do you still box like what you used to way back then??? Or have you given up because of your knee....
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
Me Box???? I prefer to watch it
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
Happy Birthday.. I share your point of views.
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
Marvelous...:0)
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19th Jan 2012 (#)
Awesome, johnnydod.
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21st Jan 2012 (#)
Thank you Johnny for so excellently showcasing one of the greatest stars in history.
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23rd Jan 2012 (#)
Great star page. I met his daughter, Rasheeda, once. Lovely person.
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25th Jan 2012 (#)
oh good to know this...:)
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25th Jan 2012 (#)
Nice one Johnny, hard to believe the years have moved on so quickly. I love the quote, move ike a butterfly, sting like a bee.
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19th Feb 2012 (#)
Good information.
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