Great sportsmen leave a void whenever they depart. Having enriched sport, they are fondly remembered for their contribution in making the world a better place. Muhammad Ali was one such sportsman.
Express attempts to give a glimpse of what he did...
Quickjabs
How he got into boxing
The world should thank the person who stole a 12-year-old Muhammand Ali’s, aka Cassius Clay, bike. For, that led to him setting out to find the perpetrator, and that’s when he chanced upon Joe Martin, a policeman and boxing trainer at the nearby Columbia gym. Martin was the one who told him that if he wanted to find the thief, Ali needed to learn how to fight first.
Lost his Olympic gold
In his autobiography, The Greatest, Ali had claimed to have thrown his Rome gold into the Ohio river, as it gave him ‘relief and strength’. But this is just an urban myth, and the truth is far less exciting. He had lost the medal, which was later revealed in a 1975 documentary. Ironically, in 2014, Robert Bradbury, a Kentucky native like Ali, found the medal at the bottom of the Ohio River.
Was thrown into jail
In 1964, during the the ongoing Vietnam War, Ali refused to serve the American Army, with him quoted as saying: “Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” After a point, in 1967, he was stripped off his heavyweight title, and even thrown in Miami Dade County Jail for driving without a valid license. He served food to death row inmates there, and was only allowed to end his boxing exile after a Supreme Court ruling in 1970.
Heavyweight titles
Having given his all in an almost two-decade boxing career, a 36-year-old lost his heavyweight title to rookie Leon Spinks, a seven-fight novice. It was one of his most underwhelming bouts ever, with a lot of plodding. But the rematch a few months later showed a return to his old ways, and Ali pouched the title for a third time with the win, thus becoming the first man to do so.
1942 to 1950s
Humble beginnings in Louisville
Son of a sign painter and a house cleaner, Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior was born into John Crow-era, Louisville. “Named for a 19th-century Kentucky abolitionist and military commander who inherited 40 slaves and freed them,” according to David Remnick’s obit in The New York Times. Cassius, as he was known then, took to boxing at 12. Soon enough, he won his first-ever bout. Entering the arena as an 89-pound amateur, he beat Ronnie O’Keefe in a 3-round split decision. There is a story that says he was a middling pupil at school but that did not matter. His fame had already spread and it made the school principal come out with the most prescient quote. “Next heavyweight champion of the world.”
January 17, 1942
Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior born in Louisville, Kentucky.
December 1954
In ring debut, wins 3-round split decision over Ronnie O’Keefe.
1960s
Golden run in Olympic Games
Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was just 18 when he won the Olympic gold (light heavyweight category) in 1960 Rome Olympics. Ali beat Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland in the summit match
You are out in eight rounds!
In the build-up to Ali vs Liston first clash, Ali predicted a victory in eight rounds while his more-experienced opponent picked two rounds to take out Ali. Ali eventually went on to seal victory in the seventh round.
Making of a legend
The Olympic gold in Rome launched Cassius into the pathway for greatness but not many know that Ali wanted to skip the Games entirely. A fear of flying meant he did not want to travel to Italy. “He asked if he could go to Rome by sea. He asked if he could make his way there by train. Told neither was possible, he decided he could do without the Olympic Games,” the Guardian remembers. He was already anointed as the Special One. Sports Illustrated reckoned he was USA’s only hope in boxing. As Clay swept through the rounds, he became the clear favourite. The light heavyweight title was sealed with a win over 3-time European champion, Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland. The decision to turn pro followed. He captured the imagination and changed the face of sport forever with a win over Sonny Liston to take the heavyweight title. He decided to embrace the ‘Nation of Islam’, a few days after beating Liston. His fame grew because of his exploits in the ring but the decision to not partake in the Vietnam war sealed his legend. As a result, he was indicted, stripped of his title and sentenced to five years in prison.
1960
Olympic light heavyweight (80kg) title with victory over Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland in the final.
October 29, 1960
Wins 6-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker on pro debut in Louisville
February 25, 1964
Upsets Sonny Liston to win heavyweight world title.
March 6, 1964
Embraces the Nation of Islam, takes the name Muhammad Ali.
May 25, 1965
Knocks out Liston at 1:52 in 1st round of world championship rematch.
May 8, 1967
Indicted in Houston, Texas, for refusing induction into the armed forces and stripped of boxing title.
June 1967
Convicted of draft dodging and sentenced to 5 years in prison, fined $10,000 and forced to surrender passport.
Early 1970s
Picture perfect! Sonny days
This is the iconic picture of the legend taken by Neil Leifer. This was captured when Ali took down Sonny Liston in the opening round of their second fight in 1965. Liston was considered to be one of the most intimidating fighter then. Ali shook the world with victory in the fist bout to clinch the title. A year later, Ali won the rematch in no time.
1974-79
The renaissance
First retirement follows before a big-money deal to fight Joe Frazier for the title is signed. Aptly labelled ‘fight of the century,’ it was the first time two undefeated boxers fought each other for the title. A fight Ali would lose after 15 physically tiring rounds. The verdict was unanimous as all three judges opined that Frazier had retained the title. But Ali’s world was about to turn. For the better. Some 110 days later, the US Supreme Court righted a wrong as they reversed Ali’s conviction over draft dodging. He learnt of the verdict from a guy on the streets of Chicago. “Some fellow ran out of his store on 79th Street with tears in his eyes and said, ‘You’re free, you’re free. The Supreme Court said so.’ He grabbed me and hugged me and said, ‘I’m so happy for you,’” he recounted later to the Daily News.
February 3, 1970
Thwarted efforts to resume his career, announces retirement.
September 2, 1970
Returns to ring after absence of more than 3 years in exhibition bouts.
October 26, 1970
Officially returns to the ring against Jerry Quarry in Atlanta, Georgia.
December 30, 1970
Signs to meet Joe Frazier for heavyweight title. Each fighter receive an unprecedented $2.5 million.
March 8, 1971
Loses close 15-round decision to Frazier, first professional defeat.
June 28, 1971
US Supreme Court unanimously reverses Ali’s draft-dodging conviction.
Completing history
There have been some astonishing sporting moments that formed the identity of the 20th century. But the one single greatest sporting performance that captured the millennium was Ali’s match against the previously unbeaten Feorge Foreman in Zaire. Known as ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, it lasted just as the eighth round was winding down to a close. Ali had done it – he had become the champ again some four years after regaining his boxing license. But a 1-1 draw wouldn’t be a proper conclusion. One of boxing’s greatest rivalries needed closure and closure they would get as the two would fight again in Manila in less than a year’s time. Dubbed the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ Ali would get his man again after 14 gruelling rounds. He retires for a second time only to come out of it. Promptly, he loses his title to Leon Spinks before he reclaims it to become the first boxer to become the heavyweight world champion for a third time.
October 30, 1974
Regains world heavyweight title with upset of previously unbeaten George Foreman on 8th-round knockout in Kinshasa, Zaire.
October 1, 1975
‘Thrilla in Manila’, an epic contest between Ali and Frazier ends when Frazier fails to answer bell for 15th round.
October 1, 1976
Announces retirement for a second time, reverses two months later.
February 15, 1978
Leon Spinks upsets Ali in 15 rounds to claim world title.
September 15, 1978
Becomes the first 3-time heavyweight world champion with victory over an out-of-shape Spinks.
June 27, 1979
Announces retirement for third time, saying, “I’d be a fool to fight again.”
One of Ali’s greatest triumphs
“The Rumble in the Jungle” was one of Ali’s greatest moments. Many thought the powerful Foreman would have his way. But they underestimated Ali’s skills. Ali leaned on the ropes and let Foreman punch himself out, which he did by the end of the seventh. In Round 8, Ali dropped Foreman with a pair of combinations, the final right hand sending the exhausted champ to the canvas.
1980s
Chennai calling
Ali had first visited India during the mid-seventies upon Rajiv Gandhi’s requisition. He again visited, this time wooing his fans in South India in 1980. Ali fought heavyweight champ Jimmy Ellis at the iconic Nehru Stadium in Madras as the crowd went berserk. The page grab shows an Indian Express clipping of the fight and a pic of an exhibition bout against a young boy.
Out of gloves box
Ali’s gloves at the National Sports Museum in NIS Patiala. He used them in Delhi before an exhibition fight in Chennai in January, 1980
A night to forget
The fight against Larry Holmes, one of his former sparring partners, which took place at the Caesars Palace at Las Vegas was one of Ali’s hardest bouts ever. It was a night when Ali screamed in pain.
January 31, 1980
Fights Jimmy Ellis in exhibition bout in Madras.
April 28, 1980
Announces return bout with Larry Holmes for October 1980.
June 1, 1980
British neurologist says Ali suffering from brain damage.
October 2, 1980
Holmes pounds Ali for 10 rounds to win vacant heavyweight title.
December 11, 1981
Beaten in 10 rounds by mediocre Trevor Berbick. Ali’s last pro fight.
“I feel 40 years old,” Ali said. “It’s the end.”
September 19, 1984
Undergoes tests that diagnose Parkinson’s disease.
July 15, 1987
Parkinson’s attributed to punishment received in the ring
1990-2000s
The final journey
The last few years have been very painful. At times, he reportedly failed to remember his children’s names. After years of suffering from Parkinson’s, the 74-year-old passed away in a hospital in Phoenix where he had been admitted earlier this week suffering from respiratory problems. He is survived by nine children, fourth wife, and loadful of memories. Thank you for the good times, champ!
Two of a kind...
In 1990, Ali met Nelson Mandela in Los Angeles, paying his respects to a fellow advocate of civil rights and political freedom. The latter had just been released from prison. They met again when Ali visited South Africa (in pic) to mourn the assassination of Chris Hani, anti-apartheid leader.
July 19, 1996
Lights Olympic cauldron at opening of Atlanta Olympics to international acclaim.
November 9, 2005
Then US president George W Bush awards Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honour.
November 14, 2011
Attends funeral of rival heavyweight Joe Frazier in Philadelphia.
June 3, 2016
Dies at age 74 after a long bout with Parkinson’s disease.
The best of the lot
Fight No: 51, Thrilla in Manilla; October 1, 1975
Opponent: Joe Frazier (32-2)
Venue: Araneta Coliseum, Manila
Ali was in a lighthearted mood in the build-up to the third installment of his rivalry with Frazier, who was thought to be washed up after a devastating loss to Foreman. But Ali’s taunting of Frazier as a “ugly, dumb gorilla” and “White Man’s Champion” infuriated Frazier, who trained with grim intensity for the October 1, 1975 fight. Frazier dominated the middle rounds, but began to tire in the 10th and Ali started to turn the tide. Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch stopped the fight between the 14th and 15th rounds. Ali hailed him as “the greatest fighter in the world -- next to me.”
Retirement, Olympic flame & beyond
Ali stumbles in the ring as he loses to Larry Holmes but that is a footnote as a British neurologist reveals he is suffering from brain damage. He loses to Trevor Berbick – his last pro fight – before deciding to hang up his gloves. Three years later, Ali is diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He disappears from the limelight before lighting the Olympic cauldron at Atlanta. “You didn’t know whether to cheer or to cry,” a report said.