Who was Muhammad Ali?

As a young boxer, Cassius Clay appeared rather modest. A wrestler named Gorgeous George caused a bigger stir among the audience and the press. Cassius Clay wanted to copy this style. He tried to impress by making predictions about his opponents and prophesying in which round they would be on the ground.

The prophecies of Cassius Clay often came true. He became famous for his ostentatious self-confidence. At times, he was even suspected of cheating, as he emerged victorious from the fights.

Rise and First World Championship
When Cassius Clay fought his first world championship match in February 1964, he had already converted to Islam and adopted the name Muhammad Ali. He fought Sonny Liston. Previously, he had controversially defeated Henry Cooper by knockout and Doug Jones by a disputed decision.

Many journalists predicted a defeat for Muhammad Ali against Sonny Liston because they didn’t like Ali’s self-assured manner. The talk was that he couldn’t fight as well as he could talk.

Muhammad Ali was considered an underdog and was still able to win after the sixth round, after his opponent had to give up due to injury. With shouts of “I am the greatest” and a gaping mouth, he became world-famous.

Cassius Clay announced his membership in the Nation of Islam. He professed Sunni Islam. He left the Nation of Islam in 1975.

Rematch against Liston
Muhammad Ali fought his rematch against Sonny Liston on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine, USA. After a fight lasting just 105 seconds, he was able to defeat Liston in the first round. He hit him on the temple or jaw after a short, hard cross.

Neither the spectators nor Liston saw this fight. The referee was overwhelmed by the situation after Ali shouted at the downed Liston. The fight was initially allowed to continue, but was stopped immediately afterward. The founder of Ring Magazine, Nat Fleischer, pointed out to referee Jersey Joe Walcott that Liston had already been on the ground for more than ten seconds.

Before the first fight, Liston was asked about Muhammad Ali’s provocations. He stated that he intended to kill Muhammad Ali. Photo and film footage showed that Muhammad Ali had indeed hit Sonny Liston. However, it was not clear how hard.

Career peak and title loss
Muhammad Ali had reached the peak of his career in the 1960s. He defended his world title against former world champion Floyd Patterson, former European champion Karl Mildenberger, and some other boxing professionals. He also met Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
Muhammad Ali was considered by many experts to be the greatest boxer of all time, especially after his clear victory over Cleveland Williams. However, Williams was no longer as powerful. In his back was a bullet that had not been surgically removed.

Muhammad Ali didn’t always use his hands for defense; instead, he let them hang by his hips. He was nimble and, thanks to his quick legs and flexible hips, was able to dodge almost every punch. He hardly ever got hit in the head.

Muhammad Ali refused to serve in the military. As a result, he was stripped of his title in 1967. He cited his faith and the lack of equality for African Americans as reasons for refusing military service. He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 0,000, but he remained free on bail.

The ban was lifted in 1970. Ali had not received a boxing license by then. Due to television appearances and speeches at universities, he was able to compensate for his financial problems. His later opponent Joe Frazier also supported him financially.

Comeback
Muhammad Ali was allowed to step back into the ring in 1970. He won against Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry. Joe Frazier was now the universally recognized and undefeated world champion. Muhammad Ali had to face him. The fight went down in history as the “Fight of the Century.”

The two opponents represented different cultural movements. Joe Frazier was considered a “good Negro,” while Ali represented a symbol of the American counterculture.

The fight took place on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York. In the early stages, Ali benefited from more punches, his reach, and the opponent’s slow start.