Cassius Clay – Muhammad Ali
Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali was arguably the most famous and recognizable man in the world by the time of his death. During his lifetime he won Olympic Gold for the United States boxing team, returning to Louisville to be denied service in many of that city’s facilities. He became a polarizing figure, first for embracing Islam and changing his name, then for refusing induction into the United States Army. He became a critic of many black leaders and a spokesman for his race, questioning why it couldn’t bring itself out of often self-inflicted problems and attitudes.
Throughout his professional boxing career Ali was hit over 200,000 times in the head and body. His professional career included 61 fights, of which he won 56, knocked out only once. By contrast he defeated 37 opponents by knockout. He fought and defeated every top ranked heavyweight over the course of his career, which has been referred to as boxing’s second Golden Age. As a fighter he drew fame for the manner in which he fought, which changed over time in deference to his diminishing speed and stamina. By the end of his career in the ring he was but a shell of the flashy and fast boxer he had once been.
By then he had become a spokesman for his race and for the United States as a goodwill ambassador around the world, a beloved figure surrounded by adoring crowds everywhere he went. He remained a controversial, divisive figure to some, with many never being able to forgive his refusal to serve in the United States Army. Some never got over his boasting style of trumpeting his achievements. But he was an inspiration to countless thousands to examine their own consciences and live to their own aspirations and beliefs. His presence helped to galvanize the civil rights movements of the 1960s.
Following his boxing career’s somewhat ugly final years – he lost badly in his last two fights – Ali traveled extensively to draw attention to the difficulties being encountered by the people of the many nations he visited. Prior to the 1990 Gulf War Ali attempted to negotiate the release of American hostages being held as human shields by Saddam Hussein. Ali was successful in obtaining the release of several of the hostages, though he drew a public rebuke for his unauthorized efforts from President George H. W. Bush.
As Ali battled Parkinson’s Syndrome his appearances became less and less frequent, and when he did appear his decline was obvious and sometimes shocking. When he lit the Olympic Torch in Atlanta in 1996 his shaking was obvious and although he smiled he said nothing. He joined actor Michael J. Fox in an appearance before Congress to raise awareness of Parkinson’s. At the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games in London he had to be helped to his feet by his wife, too weak to do so unaided. He died in 2016, leaving behind his legacy as The Greatest.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“John Baxter Taylor”, biography entry, Penn Biographies, archives.upenn.edu
“Larry Doby”, entry, Hall of Famers, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, baseballhall.org
“Earl Lloyd”, entry, Encyclopedia Brittanica, brittanica.com
“Althea Gibson”, entry, The International Tennis Hall of Fame, tennisfame.com
“Charlie Sifford”, entry, The World Golf Hall of Fame, worldgolfhalloffame.org
“The Legacy of Oscar Robertson”, by Bill Simmons, Grantland, March 15, 2012.
“Ali: Lord of the Ring”, by Jess Cagle, TIME Magazine, December 17, 2001