[37] (He was quoted as saying, "I said I was the greatest, not the smartest! Reflections on Muhammad Ali's Parkinson journey Pacheco was quoted as saying, "the New York State Athletic Commission gave me a report that showed Ali's kidneys were falling apart. There are also traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad (the sira literature), which provide additional information about Muhammad's life. Muhammad Ali (/li/;[4] born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.;[5] January 17, 1942 June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. [98] According to most close to him, his Chicago years were formative. Muhammad Ali was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its first year and held wins over seven other Hall of Fame inductees during an era that has been called the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Lonnie first met Ali at the age of 6 when her family moved to Louisville in 1963. Odessa Lee Grady Clay, 77, mother of three-time heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali, died recently of heart failure at a nursing home in the Louisville, KY, area. Once more, Ali refused to budge when his name was called, and he was arrested. New photos from 1960s show Ali at home | CNN [317] In November 2005, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush,[318][319] followed by the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in Gold of the UN Association of Germany (DGVN) in Berlin for his work with the civil rights movement and the United Nations, which he received on December 17, 2005. Ali fought Ken Norton for the third time in September 1976. Their second daughter, Laila Ali, was born in December 1977. [178] Both homes were subsequently sold after Ali's death with Lonnie living in their remaining home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. [151] Born into a Chicago family that had converted to the Nation Of Islam, she later changed her name to Khalilah Ali, though she was still called Belinda by old friends and family. [290] Ali was once again hospitalized on January 15, 2015, for a urinary tract infection after being found unresponsive at a guest house in Scottsdale, Arizona. "[184] Ali still attended a number of his daughter's fights and later admitted to Laila he was wrong. You my opposer when I want justice. Reflecting on the fight, George Foreman later said: "I thought Ali was just one more knockout victim until, about the seventh round, I hit him hard to the jaw and he held me and whispered in my ear: 'That all you got, George?' [335] He also appeared on the cover of Time Magazine 5 times,[336] the most of any athlete. He won the world heavyweight championship, defeating Sonny Liston in a major upset on February 25, 1964, at age 22. On this site, Ali carved out what was to become his training camp, where he trained for all his fights from 1972 to the end of his career in 1981. In 1978, he said "Women are not made to be hit in the breast, and face like that. How did Muhammad Ali die? What is Parkinson's disease and septic shock "[209], He also developed an interest in Sufism, which he referenced in his autobiography, The Soul of a Butterfly. Holmes, who fought under the nickname "The Easton Assassin", easily dominated Ali. However, Frazier came on in the middle rounds, snapping Ali's head in round seven and driving him to the ropes at the end of round eight. The annual award was originally created in 2008 and honors former "sports figures who embody the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy as vehicles for changing the world." They made a joint appearance before Congress to push the case in 2002. "[77] Ali elaborated: "Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? People who supported Ali during this time were also threatened, including sports journalist Jerry Izenberg, whose columns defended Ali's decision not to serve. Patterson later said that he had never been hit by punches as soft as Ali's. "[181] He also said, "Black men would go over there and fight, but when they came home, they couldn't even be served a hamburger. The Prophet Muhammad and the Origins of Islam And, I walked away," Boyd said. [222], Ali often used rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, both for when he was trash talking in boxing and as political poetry for his activism outside of boxing. [189] By the time of the first Liston fight, Nation of Islam members, including Malcolm X, were visible in his entourage. An ailing Ali said afterwards that the fight "was the closest thing to dying that I know", and, when later asked if he had viewed the fight on videotape, reportedly said, "Why would I want to go back and see Hell?" [25][73][75] This classification meant he was now eligible for the draft and induction into the U.S. Army at a time when the U.S. was involved in the Vietnam War, a war which put him further at odds with the white establishment. "He said, 'Listen here little girl. Muhammad Ali reflecting on having Parkinson's disease[284][285], Ali's Parkinson's syndrome led to a gradual decline in his health, though he was still active into the early 2000s, promoting his own biopic, Ali, in 2001. I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick. Muhammad Ali - History On March 6, 1964, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) bestowed on Clay the name of Muhammad Ali. In an interview with NBC 6, Boyd recounted meeting Ali when she was 10 years old at her hometown mosque. Ali began training at a farm near Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1971 and, finding the country setting to his liking, sought to develop a real training camp in the countryside. His autobiography The Greatest: My Own Story, written with Richard Durham, was published in 1975. You might have seen the last of me. Ali . You my opposer when I want freedom. Judges awarded Ali a unanimous decision. "[297], The day after Ali's death, the UFC paid tribute to Ali at their UFC 199 event in a lengthy video tribute package, crediting Ali for his accomplishments and inspiring multiple UFC champions. [96], In March 1966, Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces. He won by split decision. An officer warned him that he was committing a felony punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. The fight was later named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring magazine. Muhammad Ali | Biography, Bouts, Record, & Facts | Britannica The WBC Heavyweight title was not on the line for this fight. According to Khaliah, Aaisha and her mother lived at Ali's Deer Lake training camp alongside Belinda and her children. Watching on closed-circuit TV, heavyweight champ Sonny Liston quipped that if he fought Clay he (Liston) might get locked up for murder. "[38][39], Clay was first directed toward boxing by Louisville police officer and boxing coach Joe E. Martin,[40] who encountered the 12-year-old fuming over a thief's having taken his bicycle. The three-time world heavyweight champion, who had Parkinson's disease for 32 years . [140] The match was not scripted and ultimately declared a draw. Clay was knocked down by both Sonny Banks and Cooper. Ali was back on his feet in three seconds. [170] His mother Temica Williams (also known as Rebecca Holloway) launched a $3million lawsuit against Ali in 1981 for sexual assault, claiming that she had started a sexual relationship with him when she was 12, and that her son Osmon (born 1977) was fathered by Ali. [305] Ali's memorial was watched by an estimated 1billion viewers worldwide.[243]. [224][225] I Am the Greatest sold 500,000 copies, and has been identified as an early example of rap music and a precursor to hip hop. The anger toward Ali, especially after losing the fight and the championship belt, was real. [note 1][note 2][307][308][309], In 1978, three years before Ali's permanent retirement, the Louisville Board of Aldermen in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, voted 65 to rename Walnut Street to Muhammad Ali Boulevard. The last four rounds saw round-to-round shifts in momentum between the two fighters. The defeat of Frazier set the stage for a title fight against heavyweight champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974a bout nicknamed The Rumble in the Jungle. [156] He had another daughter, Miya (born 1972), from an extramarital relationship with Patricia Harvell. [46], Adding to the atmosphere were the considerable pre-fight theatrics and name calling. Al Sharpton spoke of his bravery at a time when there was still widespread support for the Vietnam War: For the heavyweight champion of the world, who had achieved the highest level of athletic celebrity, to put all of that on the linethe money, the ability to get endorsementsto sacrifice all of that for a cause, gave a whole sense of legitimacy to the movement and the causes with young people that nothing else could have done. Ali was guest of honor at the record-breaking Collision in Korea, a wrestling event with the largest attendance of all time.[144]. That really affected him. [315], In 1999, Time magazine named Ali one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. [322], The 1976 Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki fight played an important role in the history of mixed martial arts. [262][263] The Nigerian government also rebuffed him and confirmed that they would be participating in the Moscow Games. [28] He was a descendant of slaves of the antebellum South, and was predominantly of African descent, with Irish[29] and English family heritage. Early Life Muhammad was born into the most powerful tribe in Mecca, the Quraish, around 570 A.D. In the U.S. version Ali lost in a simulated 13th-round knockout, but in the European version Marciano lost due to cuts, also simulated. On April 30, 1976, Ali would fight Jimmy Young and win a controversial unanimous decision. [140] After Ali's death, The New York Times declared it his least memorable fight. [321], Ali Mall, located in Araneta Center, Quezon City, Philippines, is named after him. He stated: "Man, I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. He was 74. The Associated Press ranked him as the second best boxer and best heavyweight of the 20th century. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Terrell claimed that early in the fight Ali deliberately thumbed him in the eye, forcing him to fight half-blind, and then, in a clinch, rubbed the wounded eye against the ropes. "[221] According to this effect, when people are asked to rate their intelligence and moral behavior in comparison to others, people will rate themselves as more moral, but not more intelligent than others. [46] Nevertheless, Ali lost by unanimous decision, his first professional defeat. [185] Ali's daughter Hana is married to Bellator middleweight fighter Kevin Casey. Ali remains the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion. Ali first appeared on the magazine's cover in 1963 and went on to be featured on numerous covers during his storied career. [348][349], His 1966 fight against George Chuvalo was the subject of Joseph Blasioli's 2003 documentary film The Last Round: Chuvalo vs. Ali said the idea was not to use the proceeds for profit, but to establish an international agency to help poor children. At the time, Ali was widely condemned by the American media,[99] with fears that his actions could potentially lead to mass civil disobedience. [179], In a 1974 interview, Ali said, "If they say stand and salute the flag I do that out of respect, because I'm in the country". [20][21][22] He often predicted in which round he would knock out his opponent. [245][246], By the end of his boxing career Ali had absorbed an estimated 200,000 hits. [171] She further alleged that Ali had originally supported her and her son financially, but stopped doing so after four years. Ali stumbled to the corner, where his associate Butch Lewis convinced him to walk away. Their opinion was accepted by the NAC on July 31, 1980, paving the way for Ali's return to the ring.[128]. He stayed out of prison while appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, where his conviction was overturned in 1971. He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam. For other uses, see, NSA and FBI monitoring of Ali's communications, Fights against Quarry, Patterson, Foster and Norton, World heavyweight champion (second reign), Philanthropy, humanitarianism and politics. To replace Moore, Clay hired Angelo Dundee to be his trainer. [124] Ali won a unanimous decision in an uninspiring fight, with referee Lucien Joubert scoring rounds 10-4, judge Ernie Cojoe 10-4, and judge Herman Preis 11-4. During this part of the bout Ali did some effective counter-punching, but for the most part absorbed punishment from a relentlessly attacking Frazier. I want to sit back and count my money, live in my house and my farm, work for my people and concentrate on my family."[120]. Let 'Ali vs. Inoki' author Josh Gross explain", "Click Debate: What's all this talk about the Ali Act coming to MMA? He started his professional career in January 1962 with a win by KO/TKO in 1 round against John Tate. Other boxing commissions followed suit. On February 2, 1976, Ali defeated Jean-Pierre Coopman by 5th round knockout. [51] Ali stated in a 1969 interview with the Associated Press' Hubert Mizel that he met with George in Las Vegas in 1961, that George told him that talking a big game would earn paying fans who either wanted to see him win or wanted to see him lose, thus Ali transformed himself into a self-described "big-mouth and a bragger". But for those very reasons I enjoyed him."[88]. He said a reunion of the Beatles "would make a lot of people happy. My purpose in coming here was to try to stop that. Leroy Johnson, Jesse Hill Jr. and Harry Pett had used their local political influence and set up the company House of Sports to organize the fight, underlining the influential power of Georgia's black politics in Ali' s comeback. In spite of his abolitionist fervor, Clay owned more slaves in 1865, when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution finally forbade its practice, than he had inherited from his wealthy slave-owning father Green Clay 37 years earlier. [141] Most boxing commentators at the time viewed the fight negatively and hoped it would be forgotten as some considered it a "15-round farce. Before becoming world-famous for boxing, Ali worked at various jobs including truck driver, shoe shiner, gas station attendant, and waiter. "This is money to help people all over the world", he said. Lonnie Ali. After the match was over, Ali removed his shirt and jacket and confronted professional wrestler Gorilla Monsoon in the ring after his match at a World Wide Wrestling Federation show in Philadelphia Arena. [255] Early in his career, one of his main focuses was youth education. [93][351] A 2013 made-for-TV movie titled Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight dramatized the same aspect of Ali's life. Muhammad Ali's Kentucky Home Finds a Buyer - Mansion Global Muhammad Ali dead at 74 | CNN However, initially when he refused induction, he became arguably the most hated man in the country and received many death threats. Ali, in his corner, winner by TKO, slumped on his stool, clearly spent. His retirement was short-lived, however; Ali announced his comeback to face Larry Holmes for the WBC belt in an attempt to win the heavyweight championship an unprecedented fourth time. It was despite telling officials that he was Ali's son and a native-born US citizen . However a few seconds later Walcott, having been informed by the timekeepers that Liston had been down for a count of 10, stopped the match and declared Ali the winner by knockout. [42] He then began to work with trainer Fred Stoner, whom he credits with giving him the "real training", eventually molding "my style, my stamina and my system." Midway through the fight, as Foreman began tiring, Ali countered more frequently and effectively with punches and flurries, which electrified the pro-Ali crowd. "[50] Ali's trash talk was inspired by professional wrestler "Gorgeous George" Wagner's, after he saw George's talking ability attract huge crowds to events. In winning this fight at the age of 22, Clay became the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion. He was also named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year three times. There is a great possibility that I will retire. News networks, such as ABC News, BBC, CNN, and Fox News, also covered him extensively. Liston stated that the reason he quit was an injured shoulder. Khadija bint Khuwaylid - Wikipedia [17][18][19] He was famous for trash-talking, often free-styled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry incorporating elements of hip hop. At the opening bell, Liston rushed at Clay, seemingly angry and looking for a quick knockout. In late 1966, he also pledged to donate a total of $100,000 to the UNCF (specifically promising to donate much of the proceeds of his title defense against Cleveland Williams), and paid $4,500 per closed circuit installation at six HBCUs so they could watch his fights. [189] Shortly afterwards on March 6, Elijah Muhammad gave a radio address that Clay would be renamed Muhammad (one who is worthy of praise) Ali (most high). "[196] Ali's friendship with Malcolm X ended as Malcolm split with the Nation of Islam a couple of weeks after Ali joined, and Ali remained with the Nation of Islam. The company's stockholders were mainly fellow Nation of Islam members, along with several others, including Bob Arum. Having arrived in Tanzania, Ali told cameras "Russia is invading a Muslim country, Asiatic country", and that its probable intention to head to oil-rich Persia to take dwells and ports "could lead to nuclear war. The Tanzanian government was insulted that Carter had sent an athlete to discuss a serious political issue. He was crowned Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated. It was a bout that would inspire Sylvester Stallone to create the acclaimed film, Rocky.[119]. In the 11th round, Frazier connected with a left hook that wobbled Ali, but because it appeared that Ali might be clowning as he staggered backwards across the ring, Frazier hesitated to press his advantage, fearing an Ali counter-attack. [118][unreliable source], Ali's next opponents included Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle, and Joe Bugner. [313][7] By 1986, Ali and Porch were divorced due to Ali's continuous infidelity. The signal cascades into fluid motion of the muscles of the body. Williams had once been considered among the hardest punchers in the heavyweight division, but in 1964 he had been shot at point-blank range by a Texas policeman, resulting in the loss of one kidney and 3.0 metres (10ft) of his small intestine. Burns worked on the film from early 2016 and it was released in September 2021 on PBS. The bout was broadcast to 36 countries; promoters granted 760 press passes. He has been cited as an inspiration by rappers such as LL Cool J,[21] Public Enemy's Chuck D,[232] Jay-Z, Eminem, Sean Combs, Slick Rick, Nas and MC Lyte. Ali was named one of the 100 most influential Americans of the 20th century by Life magazine in 1990. That's another level of leadership and sacrifice. He still believes that even good Christians or good Jews can receive God's blessing and enter heaven as he stated, "God created all people, no matter what their religion". [301] On June 10, 2016, the funeral procession passed through the streets of Louisville ending at Cave Hill Cemetery, where his body was interred during a private ceremony. At the end of round four, Clay was returning to his corner when he began experiencing blinding pain in his eyes and asked his trainer, Angelo Dundee, to cut off his gloves. [56] Many of those in attendance thought Clay's behavior stemmed from fear, and some commentators wondered if he would show up for the bout. Ali fought Terrell in Houston on February 6, 1967. In 2006, the documentary Ali Rap was produced by ESPN. He died from septic shock,a common but potentially deadly condition. He paid a bond and remained free while the verdict was being appealed. [139], On June 26, 1976, Ali participated in an exhibition bout in Tokyo against Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist Antonio Inoki. "[142] Today it is considered by some to be one of Ali's most influential fights and CBS Sports said the attention the mixed-style bout received "foretold the arrival of standardized MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) years later. [302][303][304] Billy Crystal gave the eulogy. The fight with Doug Jones on March 13, 1963, was Clay's toughest fight during this stretch. The Nation of Islam was widely viewed by whites and some African Americans as a black separatist "hate religion" with a propensity toward violence; Ali had few qualms about using his influential voice to speak Nation of Islam doctrine. Before the match, Ali mocked Patterson, who was widely known to call him by his former name Cassius Clay, as an "Uncle Tom", calling him "The Rabbit". This is a trial from God. "[92], Ali's resistance to the draft was covered in the 2013 documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali. [291] He was released the next day. Pride was acquired by its rival, Ultimate Fighting Championship, in 2007. The following table lists known viewership figures of his non-fight television appearances. He said he was embarrassed to get in the ring with Alex Miteff and claimed that Madison Square Garden was "too small for me. Brown is the author of "Muhammad Ali: The Untold Story: Painter, Poet and Prophet. [161], Kiiursti Mensah-Ali claims she is Ali's biological daughter with Barbara Mensah, with whom he allegedly had a 20-year relationship,[163][164][165][166] citing photographs and a paternity test conducted in 1988. [275], On September 1, 2009, Ali visited Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, the home of his great-grandfather, Abe Grady, who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1860s, eventually settling in Kentucky. [167][168][169], In 2010, Osmon Williams came forward claiming to be Ali's biological son. [180] Ali would later say, "If America was in trouble and real war came, I'd be on the front line if we had been attacked. "[59], At ringside post fight, Clay appeared unconvinced that the fight was stopped due to a Liston shoulder injury, saying that the only injury Liston had was "an open eye, a big cut eye!" [46] Ali received a replacement medal at the Georgia Dome during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he lit the torch to start the Games. [144], In 1979, Ali fought an exhibition match against NFL player Lyle Alzado. "The last week has. [316] On January 8, 2001, Muhammad Ali was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Bill Clinton. 579 (115th): Muhammad Ali Commemorative Coin Act", "Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali Commemorative Coin Bill Introduced", "Jordan stays atop Harris Poll ahead of Ruth, Ali", "Meet the London busker who worked as Muhammad Ali's personal musician", "10 things you never knew about 'Diff'rent Strokes', "Being Better but Not Smarter than Others: The Muhammad Ali Effect at Work in Interpersonal Situations", "How Do You Really Get A Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame? He was the father of three-time World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali and Rahman Ali, and the paternal grandfather of Laila Ali.He married Odessa Lee O'Grady in 1934 and worked as a painter.He was described as "a handsome, mercurial, noisy, combative failed dreamer" and a "hard-drinking . Muhammad Ali: Biography, Heavyweight Boxer, Activist Ali took him up on the offer and produced several paintings for him to sell. Construction of the mall, the first of its kind in the Philippines, began shortly after Ali's victory in a match with Joe Frazier in nearby Araneta Coliseum in 1975. He also stated, "If you're against someone because he's a Muslim that's wrong. I'm the prettiest thing that ever lived. Ali sparred less than two dozen rounds in preparation for the fight, and was seriously out of shape by the opening bell. Muhammad Ali's long struggle with Parkinson's disease
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