Colourful Boxing Career of the Young Kentuckian Louisville LipMuhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, the son of a sign painter Marcellus Clay, and Odessa Grady herself a domestic worker. Muhammad Ali began boxing As Cassius Clay at the tender age of 12 under the guidance of Joe Martin a white policeman from Louisville the same town as Cassius Clay Infuriated by the discovery that his bicycle had been stolen. Muhammad Ali set about to whup whoever stolen his bicycle. Joe Martin wary of the problem of disruptive adolescent ferociousness in Cassius Marcellus Clay's tough neighbourhood, convinced the young adolescent that such blow your own trumpet verbal boasts were best complemented by a mastery of the principles of the pugilist sporting ring. Thus began the colourful boxing career of the Kentucky Louisville Lip who went on to tantalised the boxing world arena with his predictions. Clay Angrily Threw His Gold Medal Into The Ohio RiverCassius Marcellus Clay was an unresponsive student who graduated 376th in his high school out of a class of 391, Cassius Clay in youthful days single-mindedly dedicated himself to amateur boxing, appearing in 108 bouts between 1955 and 1960. He won six Kentucky Golden Glove titles, two National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships, two National Golden Glove crowns, and the Gold Medal in the light heavyweight division in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. On returning from Rome Olympics triumphantly to Louisville, Kentucky expecting a grand welcome home charade. Bitterly disappointed at not being welcomed as an American hero in his segregated hometown. Such is the way of the American society. After being refused services at a Louisville diner party while wearing his Olympic Medal around his neck, He angrily threw the gold medal into the Ohio River. Muhammad Ali's professional debut as a heavyweight came in October 1960 with a six round decision over Tunny Hunsaker. Clay won his next 18 fights, 15 by knockouts. Young 22 year Old Brash Kid Cassius Clay Knockout Invincible Sonny ListonOn 25th February 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida, Clay waged his first challenge for the world heavyweight championship in a match against the immovable rock, Sonny Liston. Several boxing experts thought Sonny Liston to be invincible and unbeatable in the ring. Sonny Liston a man who said to have driven a ten inch nail through a plank of wood with his fist or so we were led to believe when it was announced on the media, but its debatable whether or not he could! The young brash 22-year old kid, Cassius Clay spent the weeks leading up to the fight entertaining reporters and fans with colourfully worded pledges of his impending victory. In one of the most stunning upsets in the chronicles of boxing history, Clay had delivered on his promise, by knocking out Sonny Liston in the seventh round of their first fight to become world heavyweight boxing champion. Before the fight it seems almost impossible to envisage Cassius Clay ever winning the world heavyweight boxing title! Shortly after the fight, Cassius Clay startled the sports world by announcing that he had joined the Nation of Islam and he had changed his name to Muhammad Ali. While Ali Sits and Waits, Joe Frazier Was Busy "Smokin" Out All Title ContendersIn the the return match with Liston, Clay under his new name of Muhammad Ali Knockout Sonny Liston in defence of his heavyweight crown. Ali went on to defend his title in nine matches over a period of two years before his title was revoked. In 1967 when, citing his Islamic faith, Muhammad Ali refused induction into the United States military service and therefore, sentenced to five-year imprisonment including a $10,000 fine. With the Vietnam crises hanging over his head, losing his license to box, his heavyweight title taken forcible taken from him, Ali was not able to earn a living from his trade as a boxer. Muhammad Ali began fighting again in 1970 after his boxing license was returned to him, though the U.S. Supreme Court had not yet officially reverse his conviction for draft evasion until It was a year later in 1971 that the Supreme court ruling was upheld in favour of Muhammad Ali. During 1971 Ali had knockout victories against Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonaven earning him a chance to regain his world heavyweight crown. Joe Frazier was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world was kept busy by "Smokin" out all title contenders. |
