I was inspired to write this blog by the children's illustrated biography 'The champ" by Tonya Bolden, and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
Here is the link in case you were interested to by it.
Born: January 17th, 1942 Louisville, Kentucky.
Died: June 3rd, 2016 Scottsdale Arizona.
Muhammad Ali was born with his father's name, Cassius Clay. Cassius was born in Louisville, Kentucky. When Cassius was twelve he had a bike. His bike was his pride, he loved it. But one day his bike was stolen. He told the police officer that he was going to fight the person who stole his bike. The police officer said that he should learn to fight before he started challenging people. It just so happened that the police officer, Officer Joe, taught kids to box. Very soon Cassius found out that there was a lot more to boxing than just punching.
In 1954 Cassius had his very first match and his very first win. From now on his ambition was to be the greatest boxer. Early every day little Cassius was seen running uphill, downhill, forwards and sometimes even backwards! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Cassius was raised a Baptist so Sunday was his Sabbath, the only day he didn't train. By the age of eighteen Cassius had won bout after bout and had great triumphs in many big tournaments. And then in summer 1960 Cassius traveled to the Olympics in Rome, Italy, and boxed all the way to gold.
Cassius boxed all across the Atlantic ocean, London, England, his hometown and other US states. By the time Cassius was 22 he had won many fights. He didn't always hold his hands up to protect himself but held them by his sides daring the opponent to make a move and then he would whiz out of the way like a bee. He had a motto: 'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!' It was chanted all around the world.
'When you come to the fight, don't block the aisle and don't block the door. You will go home after round four.' That is what Clay said before his fight with Archie Moore and coincidentally on the 15th November 1962 Los Angeles California Clay KO Moore in round four. When it came to Sonny Liston, who held the heavyweight crown, everyone thought that Liston would beat Clay in a second. The fight held place at Miami beach, Florida on the 25 of February. The fight lasted six rounds and there seemed to be no more no round seven, Liston slumped in the corner of the ring. Cassius's dream had come true, he was king of the ring, he was the champ!
Two day after becoming the heavyweight champion Cassius shocked the world again by becoming a Muslim. shortly after Cassius became a Muslim he took up a Arabic name: Muhammad Ali. And then in the summer 1967 Muhammad was told he was going to go to war. Muhammad refused to go to war saying it was against his religion to be a soldier in a war he didn't support. A $10,000 fine and five years in jail was the price Ali had to pay. They took his crown, banned him from boxing in the US states and took his passport so that he couldn't box abroad.
Since Ali couldn't box he gave speeches and even appeared on talk shows and game shows. One year, two years, three years Ali was allowed to box again! It was October 26th 1970 Atlanta, Georgia, that was the place and time that Ali made his comeback. Ali fought the great Jerry Quarry and won in round three. Then Oscar Bonavena. movie stars, singers, so many famous people packed into New York city's Madison square garden on March 8th 1971 to see Ali and Joe Frazier. round after round punch after punch. Ali was hit hard again and again, he had never been hit so many times. Finally the bell went. DING! Frazier had won and got to keep the crown. But Ali still believed he would be king of the ring again. In June 1971 Ali was given good news he didn't have to go to jail and the government had to give his passport back!
By 1972 Ali had his very own training camp in Deer lake, Pensilvania. Outside the camp there was a sign saying: "Muhammad Ali welcomes you to deer lake." "The bee has not lost his sting, and the butterfly still has his wings." That is what Muhammad said after he lost to Ken Norton March, 1973. Ali won Several months later in a rematch. Ali's next win was with the fidgety Joe Frazier who had lost the crown to George Foreman. It was the 30th October 1974 when Ali faced Foreman. "Rumble in the Jungle." took place in a soccer stadium in the city of Kinshasa the capitol of Zaire. There was a huge crowd waiting to meet Ali when he arrived in Kinshasa. "Ali, destroy him" that what everybody was chanting even though they knew that Foreman had the most powerful punch in the world. It was terribly hot the night of the fight and with Foreman's power-punching Ali would surely lose. No! Ali had a plan, he would wear Foreman out. By round eight Ali sent Foreman stumbling into the corner of the ring DING! there went the bell Ali had his crown back!
Ali kept the crown throughout his next 10 fights. But Ali's sting was fragile and his wings dented. on October 1st, 1975 Manila, capitol of the Philippine islands Ali one again faced Frazier. It was called the "Thrilla in Manila." Ali was hit so many times but he still managed to win. and he went on to win against: Jean-pierre Coopman, Jimmy Young, Richard Dunn, Ken Norton, Alfredo Evangelista and Earnie Shavers. But on February 15th in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ali lost his crown to Leon Spinks! But in a rematch several months later Ali made history and won. Never had anyone been king of the ring three times! In the summer of 1979 Ali said a good-bye to boxing but in October 1980, Las Vegas, Nevada, Ali was back in the ring against Larry Holmes. But sadly he was KO.
Sadly Ali's time had come, it was time to retire. But everybody still loved him he still had a good sense of humour and he always had his magic tricks. Ali made use of his life by making speeches and spreading his joy. Ali surprised everybody in 1996 by appearing at the summer olympic games, the 100th anniversary off the games! Held in Atlanta Georgia. He had the honour of lighting the cauldron to signal the start of the games!
Sadly on the 3rd June 2016 Muhammad Ali died of septic shock. He was and will always be loved and respected. (he also suffered from parkinson's disease.)
