The Greatest Of All Time celebrates his 72nd birthday today
By Ja’Neal Johnson
On this day, boxing legend and philanthropist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali started boxing at the age of 12. His first trainer would be Joe Martin, a local police officer. In his first amateur fight, the young Clay would win by a split decision. He would go on to win the Golden Gloves in 1956 for light heavy weight class. Later, Cassius would win the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions and the Amateur Union’s national title for light-heavy weight division. In 1960, Clay would win his Olympic bout in three rounds against Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the gold. This victory made Clay America’s hero, but that title was shortly lived because of his refusal to fight a war he was drafted for.
This stance would not only cost him his title and career, but would give the government a different perspective of the boxer. Although he was not look at as an American hero to some, he would eventually be looked as a world leader and activist to all. This would be the birth of Muhammad Ali. Ali would face charges from the U.S Department of Justice and would be found guilty of refusing to be inducted into the military. The boxing association would strip Ali of his title which he won in 1964 against Sonny Liston and suspend him for three and half years. Muhammad Ali would make a comeback in 1970, by knocking out Jerry Quarry in October in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1974, In the epic “Rumble in the Jungle” in the African nation of Zaire, Ali would prove that age ain’t nothing but a number by beating then heavyweight champion George Foreman who was a lot younger than Ali. The lost would be devasted to Foreman, who would disappear from the boxing world for two decades. This fight would be the beacon of success for boxing promoter/mogul Don King. After this victory, Ali would take on his biggest and toughest opponent Joe Frazier in 1975. The two were known to go pound for pound for many rounds. They were 1-1. The “Thrilla in Manila” fight would take place in Quezon City, Philippines. Ali and Frazier would go for 14 rounds with Ali emerging as the champion.
During his retirement Ali has become a philanthropist, raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkison Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Muhammad Ali have received many awards and recognization for being a man of freedom, justice, and equality. Additionally, Ali received was the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
A very inspirational quote from the legend says, “A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”
Happy Birthday Mr. Ali from everyone here at The Source Magazine!
