01of 14Early SuccessTrevor Humphries/GettyBorn Cassius Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, the future sports legend started training as a boxer at age 12. Winning came quickly to the youngster, and he soon won his first amateur bout. He admitted years later that throughout his career, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ "
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Early Success
Trevor Humphries/Getty
Born Cassius Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, the future sports legend started training as a boxer at age 12. Winning came quickly to the youngster, and he soon won his first amateur bout. He admitted years later that throughout his career, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ "
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Taking Home the Gold
Marvin E. Newman /Sports Illustrated/Getty
03of 14Winning StreakJohn Rooney/APIn the 1960s, the fighter with the fancy footwork and powerful hooks won all of his matches, and most of them were knockouts. After besting fellow American Sonny Liston in 1964, he was declared the heavyweight champion of the world. “The crowd did not dream when they laid down their money / that they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny,” he wrote in one of his frequent, self-aggrandizing poems.
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Winning Streak
John Rooney/AP
In the 1960s, the fighter with the fancy footwork and powerful hooks won all of his matches, and most of them were knockouts. After besting fellow American Sonny Liston in 1964, he was declared the heavyweight champion of the world. “The crowd did not dream when they laid down their money / that they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny,” he wrote in one of his frequent, self-aggrandizing poems.
04of 14Spiritual ConversionPaul Cannon/APTwo days after his Liston victory, the 22-year-old champ joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali (meaning “worthy of praise”). When he was drafted into the Army in 1966, Ali refused to join the war effort in Vietnam, citing his Muslim beliefs. During a trial on the matter the next year, he was found guilty, but the U.S. Supreme Court eventually reversed his conviction. The boxing association, however, stripped the sports hero of his title and suspended him for three-and-a-half years.
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Spiritual Conversion
Paul Cannon/AP
Two days after his Liston victory, the 22-year-old champ joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali (meaning “worthy of praise”). When he was drafted into the Army in 1966, Ali refused to join the war effort in Vietnam, citing his Muslim beliefs. During a trial on the matter the next year, he was found guilty, but the U.S. Supreme Court eventually reversed his conviction. The boxing association, however, stripped the sports hero of his title and suspended him for three-and-a-half years.
05of 14The Fab FiveAPIn a 1964 publicity shot, Ali faked a punch with the Beatles. He had a knack for self-promotion and agreed to pose with the band after Sonny Liston turned them down. Of his self-confidence, he once reasoned, “It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”
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The Fab Five
AP
In a 1964 publicity shot, Ali faked a punch with the Beatles. He had a knack for self-promotion and agreed to pose with the band after Sonny Liston turned them down. Of his self-confidence, he once reasoned, “It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”
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Making a Comeback
AFP/Getty
07of 14Jungle JabsEd Kolenovsky/APIn the legendary match called the “Rumble in the Jungle,” which took place in Zaire in 1974, Ali fought reigning heavyweight champion George Foreman. Though he was the underdog, Ali delivered a knockout punch in the eighth round, winning the match. “Champions aren’t made in gyms,” he once mused. “Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.”
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Jungle Jabs
Ed Kolenovsky/AP
In the legendary match called the “Rumble in the Jungle,” which took place in Zaire in 1974, Ali fought reigning heavyweight champion George Foreman. Though he was the underdog, Ali delivered a knockout punch in the eighth round, winning the match. “Champions aren’t made in gyms,” he once mused. “Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.”
08of 14You’ve Got a FriendFocus on Sport/GettyAli, who was married four times and had nine children, including daughter Laila Ali, found a lifelong ally in sportscaster Howard Cosell, who supported the superstar during his “conscientious objector” trial. The two had an easy camaraderie that played out well in front of the cameras.
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You’ve Got a Friend
Focus on Sport/Getty
Ali, who was married four times and had nine children, including daughter Laila Ali, found a lifelong ally in sportscaster Howard Cosell, who supported the superstar during his “conscientious objector” trial. The two had an easy camaraderie that played out well in front of the cameras.
09of 14As Tough as It GetsMitsunori Chigita/APIn 1975’s “Thrilla in Manila” bout in the Philippines, Ali won but not before he and Joe Frazier went more than 14 grueling rounds. “It was like death,'' Ali said. “Closest thing to dying that I know of.”
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As Tough as It Gets
Mitsunori Chigita/AP
In 1975’s “Thrilla in Manila” bout in the Philippines, Ali won but not before he and Joe Frazier went more than 14 grueling rounds. “It was like death,'' Ali said. “Closest thing to dying that I know of.”
10of 14Third Time’s the CharmChris Smith/Popperfoto/GettyWhen he won a rematch against Leon Spinks in 1978, Ali, 36, became the first man to win the World Heavyweight Champion title three times; he remains the only boxer with that distinction today.
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Third Time’s the Charm
Chris Smith/Popperfoto/Getty
When he won a rematch against Leon Spinks in 1978, Ali, 36, became the first man to win the World Heavyweight Champion title three times; he remains the only boxer with that distinction today.
11of 14Retiring from the RingSuzanne Plunkett/APBy 1981, Ali’s boxing career was over, and he went from pugilist to philanthropist, focusing on the values he promoted outside the ring, such as racial justice and equality. After announcing he had Parkinson’s disease in 1984, Ali became involved in fund-raising; in 1997, he established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix. Here, he hangs with Michael J. Fox at a 2000 event in Philadelphia for Fox’s own Parkinson’s foundation.
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Retiring from the Ring
Suzanne Plunkett/AP
By 1981, Ali’s boxing career was over, and he went from pugilist to philanthropist, focusing on the values he promoted outside the ring, such as racial justice and equality. After announcing he had Parkinson’s disease in 1984, Ali became involved in fund-raising; in 1997, he established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix. Here, he hangs with Michael J. Fox at a 2000 event in Philadelphia for Fox’s own Parkinson’s foundation.
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Light of the World
Michael Cooper/Getty
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Service Minded
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty
14of 14In PeaceCBS Photo Archive/GettyAli lived out his final years under the radar, making rare public appearances (like a 2007 set visit toDancing with the Starsto watch daughter Laila, pictured) and even rarer public statements,speaking out in 2015when Donald Trump called to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. Hospitalized in late 2014 and early 2015, he again received medical care for a respiratory issue in June of 2016, shortly before his death on June 3 at the age of 74.
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In Peace
CBS Photo Archive/Getty
Ali lived out his final years under the radar, making rare public appearances (like a 2007 set visit toDancing with the Starsto watch daughter Laila, pictured) and even rarer public statements,speaking out in 2015when Donald Trump called to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. Hospitalized in late 2014 and early 2015, he again received medical care for a respiratory issue in June of 2016, shortly before his death on June 3 at the age of 74.
source: people.com
