Muhammad Ali: five moments that made him The Greatest
Here are few life changing moments that turned Cassius Clay to being the legendary Muhammad Ali.
1) Falls in love with boxing (1954)
After his bike was stolen at the Louisville Home Show, an exhibition for black businesses. A stranger suggested he contacts a policeman, Joe Martin at the nearby Columbia gym. In his autobiography, The Greatest it states: “I ran downstairs crying but the sights and sounds and smell of boxing excited me so much that I almost forgot about the bike.” As Ali left, Martin tapped him on the shoulder. “By the way, we got boxing every night, Monday through Friday, from six to eight. Here’s an application in case you want to join.”
2) Gold at the Rome Olympics (1960)
His fear of flying almost saw him not making it to the Olympics. After winning a gold medal which he later threw into the Ohio River, saying: “A few minutes earlier I had fought a man almost to death because he had wanted to take it from me … now I had thrown it in the river. And I felt no pain and regret. Only relief, and a new strength.”
3) Muhammad Ali is born (1964)
Muhammad Ali’s birth name is Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. His interest in Black Muslims began in 1959 when he saw a man in Louisville selling newspapers shouting: “Muhammad speaks! Read it!” In 1961, after visiting a temple he was submerged in the religion, he loved the Muslims for their strength. Days before his fight with Liston, his father confirms his son has joined the nation of Islam.
4) Banned from boxing (1967-68)
Ali’s refusal in joining the US Army resulted in him being stripped of his heavyweight title and being banned from boxing. Fighting in the war went against his religious beliefs, asking the question “How can I kill somebody when I pray five times a day for peace.” In June 1970 is when the supreme court ruled Ali could fight again.
5) Ali becomes a three-time heavyweight champion (1978)
Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks, not one of his best fights. A few months later he came back and won the rematch, making him the first man to hold the heavyweight belt for the third time. Ali was now 36 way beyond fighting age and promised to retire saying: “I suffered and sacrificed more than I ever did. There’s nothing left for me to gain by fighting.
Source: The Guardian
