Born in Louisville City Hospital in Kentucky January 17, 1942

Birth name Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. Muhammad Ali is most famous for

boxing I chose Muhammad Ali because he is a

good role model and one of the most dedicated people.

Childhood

Cassius Clay started to box after his bike was stolen. He found a police officer downstairs in the building he was at when his bike was stolen. He also happened to be a boxing coach. Cassius wanted to beat up the person who stole his bike so he asked the police officer to teach him how to box. Clay knew a new bike was out of the question because money was hard to come by for him and his family.

Clay and his younger brother, Rudolph, started to box together. His boxing coach said that Clay was the most dedicated person. Clay grew up with little exposure to outside cultural influences, but that didn't stop him from being the greatest. He appeared on a local TV show called “Tomorrow’s Champions”. Before his teenage years, Clay won two AAU titles, six Kentucky Golden Gloves, and two Golden Glove championships.

Cassius Clay dropped out of high

school March 1958 to become a full time

boxer. Clay was good enough to go to the

Olympics in his teens! One problem though,

he was afraid of flying. He soon overcame

his fright. Clay had super fast reflexes. This

is how he came to win the Olympics! He was

only eighteen when he won the Olympics!

Cassius Clay went to Archie Moore’s training camp in November 1960. He appeared in Sports Illustrated magazines and on TV. His slogan and technique is “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!” Clay went home from camp during the Christmas holiday, he soon realized he would never return to that camp. Cassius took photos with the Beatles, a popular rock band. Clay became a world figure at twenty-one. Cassius Clay changed his name and religion to Muslim after winning a fight. His new name is now Muhammad Ali. He chose to change his name after the fight because he felt no one would give him respect if he changed it before.

Ali was made to sign up for the draft. He asked for a hearing not to go to war because of his religious rights August 23, 1966. Ali was put in jail for refusing induction June 1967. His sentence was a maximum five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He lost his passport and his heavyweight champion title.

Muhammad won the Golden Gloves and Olympic gold medal in 1960. Ali fought a rematch against Joe Frazier. He lost the fight and he got his first professional defeat. June 28, 1971, the supreme court of the United States of America unanimously reversed Ali’s conviction. Muhammad knew Elvis Presley, Elvis gave Ali a robe, on it, it said in emblazoned letters “People’s Champions”. Ali had 108 amateur and 37 pro fights before his 30’s. Ali was in a newspaper in a comic boxing against superman. He won his title back by fighting against George Foreman. He won by using his new style, “rope a dope”.

Ali lost his last fight against Trevor Berbick, December 1981. Muhammad now has Parkinson's disease. His first three marriages ended in a divorce. He is the father of seven girls, Hana, Jamillah, Khaliah, Laila, Maryum, Miya, and Rasheeda. He also has two boys, Muhammad Ali Jr. and Asaad. He now gives most of his time to the young people, especially the sick

Born January 17, 1942

Dropped out of High School March 1958

Won the Olympics at 18

Went to Archie Moore’s training camp November 1960

Won world heavyweight title, against Sonny Liston Feb. 25 1964

Signed up for the draft August 23, 1966. Asked for a hearing not to go to war

March 8, 1971, lost his title to Joe Frazier

Last fight on December 11, 1981 against Trevor Berbick

Contributions & Most Interesting Things About Ali

Muhammad made a big contribution for his beliefs about war and him being black. Even white people liked him. He spends time with the young and the sick.

I think the most interesting thing that Muhammad Ali did was how he trained so hard and the style he fights with, He is the most dedicated fighter his first trainer has ever seen. His slogan, ”Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!” is actually how he fights. His style is very uncommon for fighters.

Questions I Would Ask Ali

1) Did you ever find out who stole your bike when you were a kid? And what did you do if you found him?

2) Why did you suddenly change your fighting style when you fought George Foreman in 1974?

3) What did you end up doing with all of your fighting money? Did you donate it?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BibliographyMyers, W. D. (2001). The Greatest Muhammad Ali. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.