Muhammad Ali's Golden Age

History of Muhammad Ali Boxing Career

As an amateur boxer as Cassius Clay, he won 100 of 108 matches. Muhammad Ali has fought and beaten more heavyweight champions and top contenders than any other heavyweight champion in the annals of boxing history . He defeated such heavyweight kings like Sonny Liston twice, Floyd Patterson twice, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Ken Norton twice, Joe Frazier twice, George Foreman, and Leon Spinks. Beaten light Heavyweight champions Bob Foster and the legendary Archie Moore. He defeated Heavyweight Champions in Europe, Karl Mildenberger, Jürgen Blin, Jean-Pierre Coopman and Alfredo Evangelista. He went to Europe and successfully defeated British Heavyweight Champions Henry Cooper, Joe Bugner, Richard Dunn and Brian London, in his time, it was an era that was labelled the Golden Age of Championship Heavyweight boxing. All of Ali's losses were to heavyweight champions: lost to Joe Frazier on his come back after three years forced lay-off from boxing, lost to Ken Norton, lost to Leon Spinks, lost to Larry Holmes and lost to the Canadian Trevor Berbick. But, Muhammad Ali has also beaten undefeated fighters Sonny Banks, Billy Daniels, Rudi Lubbers and the mighty George Foreman in the famous Rumble in the Jungle fight with his Rope-a-Dope ring magic.

Muhammad Ali's Many Awards

The greatest has been the recipient of many awards: Olympic Gold Medal in boxing, 1960. won six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles and National Golden Gloves titles from 1959 to 1960. First boxer to regained the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship on three occasions 1964-67, 1974-78, 1978-79. In 1974 Ali was awarded the Hickok Belt: U.S.A. Olympic Hall of Fame, inductee. 1983. Nominated as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time by Ring Magazine. 1987, an International Boxing Hall of Fame, inductee. In 1987 he was selected by the California Bicentennial Foundation for the U.S. Constitution to personify the vitality of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights in various high profile activities. 1990, received the Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award, Lifetime Achievement. In 1991 Mohammad received the Spirit of America Award Labelling him the most recognised American in the world. 1992, Muhammad Ali Museum, Louisville Galleria, opened in 1995. The Essence Award in 1997. BBC's Most Prestige Award: Sports Personality of the Century. He was named Sports Illustrated’s “Athlete of the Century and State of Kentucky’s “Kentuckian of the Century. Those were some of Ali's golden moments.

Ali Received United States of America's Highest Award.

Ali was given the honour of lighting the flame at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also one of three boxers in the world to be named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated and also recently topped the list of Greatest Heavyweights. More recently in 2005 Ali received the United States of America's Highest  Award. The Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush. In 1996,and the prestigious Otto Hahn peace medal for his work with the US civil rights movement and the United Nations 17th December 2005. In 2001, a biographical film, entitled Ali, was produced, with Will Smith portraying Ali. The film received mixed reviews, with the positives being attributed to the actors, as Will Smith and supporting actor Jon Voight received Academy Award nominations. Previous to taking the part of Ali in the movie, Will Smith refused to play the part of portraying the great man, until Muhammad Ali himself told him that he should take the part.

 Star Studded Gala Celebrates Muhammad Ali’s Life

Muhammad Ali has been married on four occasions and is blessed with seven daughters and two sons, of which one his daughters has followed in his footsteps to become a boxer herself. In 2005 in Muhammad Ali's home town Louisville, Kentucky he was joined by family, friends, colleagues and aficionados from 12 countries and 32 states to join him in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky to celebrate the majestic opening of the new Muhammad Ali Centre, which is based on his iconic figure and contributions of the boxer known as The Greatest. The Muhammad Centre was opened to the public on the 21st of November, following a series of grand opening events, including a star studded gala celebrating Muhammad Ali’s life time and his accomplishments on the 19th November, there was an open air public dedication and community celebration on the 20th November at the Belvedere, that is in adjacent with the Mohammad Centre.

Muhammad Ali: The People's Champion.

Now the ex-boxer Muhammad has won an even Greater Crown which is resting on his head than when he fought for the World Heavyweight Boxing Crown in his prime years. Muhammad Ali is wearing the new crown of love given to him through the devoted energy of love by all people of a united world, that he himself constructed through his Championship Fights against the rough justice towards humanity by the oppressors. Never before in the history of sport has a human-being and a man of sports stimulates so many people in so many far away lands and in so many different directions. The Boxer Muhammad has shown that a sport can be more than just an entertainment; he made it into a cultural event with charm and power to change social ethics.

Muhammad Ali's Golden Age