Cassius Clay Jr. was born on January 17th, 1942 in Louisville Kentucky. Cassius Clay and his family lived on Grand Avenue in Louisville. The Clays were not rich, but certainly not poor, and were doing the best they could, even though they were limited to segregation. Due to segregation, the families were not allowed to eat at white-only restaurants, attend the same schools, or sit with white people on public transport and in movie theaters. Cassius was very shy as a child. He was a good student and had good grades. Cassius showed anger and signs of a fighter at an early age, ¨In 1954, Cassius rode his bicycle with his friend to the Columbia Auditorium in Louisville. When it was time to go, Cassius found out that his bicycle was missing. Clay was angry and hurt bike had been stolen. The chance of his family scraping together the money for a new bicycle was slight, and Cassius was so upset that he was crying. He wanted to report that his bike was stolen and was told there was a policeman in the basement. Cassius found the officer and told him what had happened. He also added that when he found out whoever had stolen his bike, he was going to beat him up¨ (5). Cassius got into boxing after this incident with the help of the policeman to whom he reported his story, Joe Martin.
Joe Martin taught boxing at the Columbia gym and gave lessons to Cassius. Joe didn't see much in Clay's skills except, for one thing, determination. Cassius would show up at the gym when the other boys didn't and would do anything Joe asked of him. Clay would be in the gym for hours practicing and perfecting his skills. Clay was never demotivated, ¨Once he was knocked unconscious but returned the next day against the boy who had knocked him out¨ (8). By the time he was 16, he had reflexes and coordination that were matched to the professionals. In 1958, Cassius dropped out of high school to pursue his boxing career and the Olympics.
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To go to the Olympics he had to beat the best amateur fighters from his weight class around the country. Only one fighter from each weight class would be sent to represent the Olympics. Clay won the trials and was invited to the Olympics. He was not heavy enough to be classified as a heavyweight, so he entered the Olympics as a light heavyweight weighing 178 lbs. He won his four fights with ease, winning a gold medal, and America saw a star in the making. At 18 Cassius joined a group called the Louisville Sponsoring Group and he received a $10,000 signing bonus and was guaranteed $333 per month. Clay was beginning his professional boxing career with a quick start, winning fights back to back. He kept calling out and saying when he thought he would knock his opponents out, ¨Clay predicted he would knock out the forty-eight-year-old Moore in the fourth round and accomplished that feat¨ (26).
The world was beginning to admire Cassius, ¨As Clay observed America in 1963, America was also observing him. Charming, handsome, and a world-class athlete, he was attracting a lot of attention from people¨ (36). In 1964 Cassius faced off against Sonny Linston for his first title match. Linston was no match for the young Clay and his fantastic speed. Clay knocks out Linston in the 7th round and wins his first-ever title match. After the fight, Cassius did something everyone would remember, ¨Clay now announced that he had become a Muslim and changed his name to Muhammad Ali ¨ (47). A rematch with Sonny Liston was scheduled for May 25, 1965. In just 17 seconds, Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston for the second time in his career. On November 22nd Ali was scheduled to fight Floy Patterson. Patterson said things that angered Ali, ¨The image of a black Muslim as the world champion disgraces the sport and the nation¨ (54). Ali was mad and he destroyed Patterson without any mercy, backing off each time Patterson looked like he could be knocked out. The referee finally ended the fight in the twelfth round.
Some American arenas did not like Muhammad Ali after his religion change and turned down fights that involved Ali. So, Ali went to places around the world and kept winning fights. Ali went to Canada, London, Germany, and some more. In November of 1966, Muhammad Ali fought in America again, in Houston Texas. For his first fight back, he fought Cleveland Williams and knocked him out in three rounds. On February 6, 1967, Ali fought against Ernie Terrell, who said ¨He would not call the man he knew as Cassius Clay by any other name¨ (58). Ali was destroying Terrel during the fight and kept saying ¨ What's my name¨ to him and in front of the same sportswriters who had encouraged Terell to make his statements about Muhammad Ali. In June 1967, Ali was asked to join the army and he refused, he was given a five-year sentence in prison, a $10,000 fine, and stripped of his heavyweight championship belt. Ali got out of prison thanks to his lawyers, but people viewed him as a coward. In 1970, Ali had his first fight since jail. He was facing a good white fighter named Quarry. Quarry had the advantage in the early rounds but Ali hit him with a combination of punches that opened a large cut over his eye. Perez, the referee, said ¨ I have never seen a cut like that before, you can see the bone¨ (74), He stopped the fight and Muhammad Ali won. Ali would continue to win fights and would also be winning back the fan's respect.
On March 8, 1971, Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier, which could have been his biggest test since his pro debut. Ali was doing well for the first nine rounds until his fatigue started to slow. Frazier was beating him badly in rounds 10-13, but in round 14 Ali regained strength and had a good 14th round. In the 15th round, Ali got hit with a hook and hit the floor, Ali got back up but no doubt won. Frazier handed Muhammad Ali the first professional loss. On November 21, 1972, Ali defeated Bob Foster with a knockout in 8 rounds and was an important fight in Muhammad Ali's comeback. On October 30, 1974, Ali was set to fight George Foreman who was the top fighter. Ali was confident but his team was not ¨They felt they were sending Ali out to his defeat. With his pride, Ali would not go down easily, and he might absorb the worst beating of his life¨ (120). Ali was quicker than Foreman and it showed in the fight, Ali knocked him out in the 8th round. On September 30, 1975, Muhammad Ali rematched Joe Frazier. They went back and forth all night, but in round 13 Ali hit Frazier so hard that Frazier could barely see. Frazier's team stopped the fight in the 13th round and Ali won the rematch. Muhammad Ali continued to fight until 1980, but he kept losing and he was not the same. Ali retired in 1981 but left a mark on the world and in boxing history. Muhammad Ali will always be remembered for his legacy, but also for how he fought, ¨Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee¨.
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