Muhammad Ali Turns 72-Years-Old, A Look Back At His Life


Muhammad Ali turns 72-years-old today, January 17 and we take a look back at his life for the special occasion.

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born January 17, 1942 and is one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions in history, as well as an activist, and philanthropist.

Famously at the age of 12, Ali discovered his talent for boxing after someone stole his bike.

Muhammad Ali told police officer Joe Martin that he wanted to beat up the thief, to which Martin said:

“Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people.”

Aside from being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym where Ali started training soon thereafter.

Muhammad Ali won his first fight in 1954 and never looked back, his meteoric rise to the top of his sport saw him joining the US Olympic team in 1960.

At an imposing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Muhammad Ali was an intimidating figure in the ring. He was known for his quick footwork and a powerful jab, which led him to defeat Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the gold medal for the United States.

Following his Olympic success, the boxer great was hailed a hero and quickly turned pro with the help of a Louisville Sponsoring Group.

During the early 1960s, Muhammad Ali was unstoppable, winning all his encounters mostly by knockouts.

In his quest to become World Champion, he defeated British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper in 1963 and then Sonny Liston in 1964.

Muhammad Ali was unafraid to speak his mind and often referred to himself as “the greatest.” He also liked to taunt his opponents talking about his skills in the ring.

He decided to join the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, in 1964 calling himself “Cassius X” and eventually taking the name Muhammad Ali.

The boxing association took away his title and suspended him from the sport for three and a half years after he refused to complete his military service after being drafted, arguing his religion prohibited from fighting in a war.

Muhammad Ali returned to the ring in 1970 and knocked out Jerry Quarry in October in Atlanta.

In 1971 Ali took on Joe Frazier in an epic fight — dubbed the “Fight of the Century” — that went to 15 rounds in which Frazier briefly made Ali fall to the ground. In the end Frazier won by decision. A rematch was staged in 1974 in which Muhammad Ali won.

Many other such legendary fights made Muhammad Ali the great champion that he came to be in later years. He faced other equally famous rivals such as George Foreman in 1974 and Frazier once again in 1975.

By the late 1970s “the greatest’s” career was declining and he lost fights against Leon Spinks in 1978 and was knocked out by Larry Holmes in 1980.

In 1981, Muhammad Ali fought his last boxing match, losing his heavyweight title to Trevor Berbick. He announced his retirement from boxing the following day.

In 1984 Ali announced that he has Parkinson’s — degenerative neurological condition — that affects millions.

His later years have been spent raising funds for his Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona and supporting the Special Olympics and the Make a Wish Foundation among other organizations.

In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush — the highest civilian honor an American citizen can receive.

He also opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, that same year. “I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given,” Ali said. “I believed in myself and I believe in the goodness of others.”

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