Muhammad ali brief biography

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Clay’s victory over Liston earned him his first world heavyweight boxing championship. Ali remained unapologetic, stating that he was reclaiming his identity and standing up for his beliefs as a Black man in America.

Vietnam

Perhaps the most defining moment in Ali’s life came in 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War. Citing religious and moral objections, Ali refused the U.S.

Army’s draft.

“Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” he famously said. Initially, Malcolm served as a mentor, introducing Ali to the Nation of Islam. He refused military service during the Vietnam War, citing his religious beliefs, which led to his conviction and exile from boxing for several years.

Although he lost prime years of his boxing career, his refusal to be drafted turned him into a symbol of resistance and civil rights. At 6 feet, 3 inches tall, Clay was an imposing figure in the ring, but he also became known for his lightning speed and fancy footwork. The Muhammad Ali Center, established in Louisville as a cultural and educational hub, reflects his commitment to philanthropy and community engagement, reinforcing his legacy while also contributing to his financial success.

They had one son, Asaad, and remained married until his passing in 2016.

Lonnie had known Ali since childhood, and they shared a deep bond. His stunning victories, including those against Joe Frazier and George Foreman, established him not just as a boxing legend but also as an influential figure in sports history.

Beyond the ring, Ali was a vocal critic of racial injustice and the Vietnam War.

His refusal to be drafted into the military sparked considerable controversy, leading to his arrest and a three-and-a-half-year suspension from boxing.

Ali also received the President’s Award from the NAACP in 2009 for his public service efforts.

Philanthropy

In his retirement, Ali devoted much of his time to philanthropy.

After that fight, neither of them was ever the same.

Jonathan Eig, author of the award-winning biography Ali: A Life

The Final Rounds

Ali’s last fight was in December 1981, when he was 39 years old. Despite his declining health, Ali remained active in public life, advocating for humanitarian causes, promoting peace, and even travelling to war-torn countries to negotiate the release of hostages.

One of his most memorable public appearances came during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he lit the Olympic cauldron despite the visible effects of Parkinson’s.

A few months later, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in June 1971, allowing Ali to fight on a regular basis.

Muhammad Ali’s Boxing Record

Ali had a career record of 56 wins, five losses, and 37 knockouts before his retirement in 1981 at the age of 39.

Despite the challenges of Parkinson's, he remained actively involved in public life and used his platform to raise awareness about the illness. He was 74 years old. Unabashed confidence and poetic self-expression were backed up by a talent that saw him undefeated through his first 31 professional fights.

His ascendancy grew alongside the fight for civil rights in America, where he became a cultural force.

He was married four times and fathered nine children.