Muhammad Ali: quotes, biography and personal life

Black boxer Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, USA. At birth he was given the name Cassius Marcellus Clay. He was not afraid of any fights in childhood or later - wherever they may occur inside or outside the ring.

During his childhood, Louisville (Kentucky) was not the most iridescent place for blacks - Cassius Clay could feel the racial discrimination and prejudice that may well have influenced his passion for boxing.

Access to boxing

In 12 years, the future champion started boxing - it happened by accident, which introduced him to his future coach Joe Martin. In Cassius Clay stolen bike - talking about it to Martin, who was also a police officer, he displayed a clear desire to punish thieves with their fists.

Martin said that if the guy knows how to fight. Cassius said no, but the fight will still be. This coach advised him to first go to the gym and learn. So he stepped onto the road that led him to the role of one of the most famous and recognizable fighters in the history of the sport.

Clay began to train under the guidance of Martin and soon became involved in fights. His first amateur fight in 1954, he won by decision. In 1956 he won the tournament "Golden Glove" among the newcomers in the light heavyweight division.

Olympic gold

In 1960, Cassius Clay won the competition of the Athletic Amateur Union and received an invitation to the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games. At his height about 1, 9 th, he was a very imposing figure in the ring.

Ali has already started to develop his own style - though he "danced" around the opponent with his hands down, provoking addition to powerful blows from which boxer he has successfully evaded. After the victory at the Olympics he returned home with a gold medal. Boxer wore it everywhere, without lifting, but proud of his achievement was soon shaken when he tried to visit the restaurant from "whites only."

The restaurant staff refused to allow him to maintain, even hanging from his neck, as usual, the Olympic gold medal has not changed the situation. This event made a strong impression on Clay - in the words of his brother Rahman, he was so upset that he went to the bridge across the Ohio River and threw the medal into the water. However, this was not the end of human history, which will soon take the name Muhammad Ali. Biography "The Greatest" was just beginning.

Professional Sports

Soon after the victory at the Olympics, he signed a contract with the manager, who started 11 partners who took over as the costs of travel and training athlete.

The first of the young champion's debut in professional sports was held October 29, 1960, his opponent was Tunney Hunsaker, he confidently won. After the fight Clay some time participated in training camp Archie Moore, but they could not find a common language, and the young boxer has returned to Louisville.

Besides, Clay, but his own style of battle, to form another defining feature - its language. Boast, jokes, candid insults towards opponents were part of the show and helped him to be very bright and eye-catching personality.

From this perspective, Clay was an excellent PR expert himself - he worked on this as much as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum concerned about "economic miracle" of Dubai.

Meanwhile, he found a coach - the choice of managers fell to Angelo Dundee. Dundee was not just a good specialist and one of the best in the treatment of wounds during the fight - he was able to find the right approach to the glue, without trying to change his style of communication, control or prohibit anything.

The first fight took place under the direction of Dundee from Clay Herb Siler. Next was Tony artwork, after - Swedish champion Ingemar Johansson. He often referred to himself as "the Great" and his way of praising themselves and bully opponents was as precarious as his combat style.

Clay went into the ring against more serious opponents, until eventually not met Sonny Liston. The then world champion in the heavyweight division, Liston won his title in September 1962.

The fight between him and Clay (as well as its predecessors interview, both of which are given in between the official announcement and entering the ring) was bright and spectacular. Cassius, in his usual manner, applying psychological pressure on the Liston, immediately after it was officially announced the fight. As a result, 22 years old, after a hard fight, Clay became the world champion in the heavyweight division.

"Nation of Islam"

It was after the fight with Liston boxer officially announced to join the "Nation of Islam" - religious and nationalist organization in the US, which is the main purpose of proclaiming the improvement of the spiritual, social and economic status of African Americans in the United States and around the world. The second and the most famous name - Muhammad Ali - the organization's leader, Elijah Muhammad gave Clay a fortnight after accession, in accordance with tradition.

This boxer act provoked a strong negative public reaction. WBA President Ed Lassman even tried to deny him the title of champion, although failed. His boxers colleagues Louis and Patterson also reacted to the Act is ambiguous, the latter generally considered the "Nation of Islam" an anti-American organization. Ali replied in his manner, promising to "play" with him for 10 rounds, then beat.

The separation of "Nation" and the choice of the champion

At that time, the association is a leader Elijah Muhammad, the second person after him was Malcolm X - a former radical fighter for the rights of black, at that time is a very influential member of the organization and quite a close friend of Ali.

Such an abundance of the Prophet's name - not an accident: they were quite popular in the organization, as well as being popular among Muslims around the world, now and in the past. Name of the Prophet were the Khedive of Egypt in the XIX century, an Irish scholar and public figure on the wet names acting Emir of Dubai Mohammed Al Maktoum.

After traveling Aix Africa and the Middle East, his views began to diverge from the point of view of Elijah, so that in March 1964 he was forcibly expelled from the "Nation". In this regard, Ali was forced to make a choice between him and Elijah - in the end, he chose the latter.

Floyd Patterson

After the second bout with Liston, held in 1965, also ended in victory for Clay, he just could not find serious contenders. So he went on holiday - a world tour.

After his return there was a fight between Ali and his childhood idol - Floyd Patterson. In keeping with the promised, Muhammad spent eleven rounds, without giving his opponent to do anything serious, but he is not dealing decisive blows.

Only in the twelfth round, he began to box at full strength, so that the referee stopped the fight, and there was one more victory in the track list of the champion.

However, the trouble is already closing in on the man known as Muhammad Ali. Biography boxer contains a three-year break in his career, and depriving him of all to win the title.

The refusal of the army

In August 1966, "Nation of Islam" has hired a lawyer to help champion freed from military duty. A few years earlier he had received the agenda, but was considered "unfit" as failed tests for IQ. On this occasion, Ali joked during an interview: "I am the greatest, not the smartest."

However, such a situation could not be - even if the Commission has not recognized the boxer fit for war, it could be used to part-time work, and he also did not want.

In April 1967, the boxer has officially refused to do military service, and the court, which took place in June 1967, found him guilty. He was deprived of the title and the right to speak in the ring.

A break and a fresh start

He boxer himself explained his refusal to religious beliefs. "Nation of Islam" did not welcome the war, of course, could not go to serve and Muhammad Ali. Quotes from his interview with Esquire magazine in that period clearly show that he was considering retirement from boxing and career change.

During the forced break champion managed to play in the Broadway musical, play in a documentary film and sell the right to use his name in advertising hamburgers and try yourself as a speaker - many universities invited him to lecture on a fee basis.

In June 1971 the US Supreme Court handed down a favorable decision on the case of Ali. He was acquitted and restored all rights, could again go into the ring, and travel the world. Lawyers have made the restoration of its license, and the conquest of the world title began the second round.

Life

The famous boxer has been married four times, as a result of these marriages were born seven daughters and four sons. The first wife of Muhammad Ali - the waitress seongju county Roy - was not a Muslim, and under the influence of the "Nation of Islam" their relationship ended in divorce (January 1966).

As early as August 1967, Ali married Belinda Boyle, who, unlike his first wife, converted to Islam and Ali Khalil name. In this marriage were born four children - three daughters and one son. Their relationship, however, began to sour. In 1977, Mohammed Khalil divorced, then married Veronica Porsche, with whom he had an affair during his marriage. From this connection, we had two daughters, but they divorced in 1986.

The ratio of women boxers was very conservative - talked about this himself Muhammad Ali. Quotes from his numerous interviews, create an image of him as a beautiful woman, elegant lady. Cassius himself believed that a woman should not work - it has to take care of children, the house, to be beautiful for her husband.

In 1986, Ali married his childhood sweetheart Iolanthe Williams, with whom he still lives. Their own children they have not, however, a couple adopted a boy, five-year Asaad Amin. Besides those already mentioned, the boxer have two more illegitimate daughter.

Interesting facts about the "great"

On Alley fame is its star - the first and so far only, mounted on a vertical surface, or more precisely, on the wall of the theater "Kodak". So he asked for Muhammad Ali - the Prophet and his name should not be under the feet of passers-by. He does not demean the dignity of the Muslim spiritual leader:

• Muhammad Ali suffered from a fear of flying. When he flew for the second time at the Olympics, it has got the parachute and spent the entire flight in it.
• After his debut fight with Ronnie O'Keefe Clay took the training very seriously. He prefers to run in the school instead of riding a bus, did not drink, did not smoke, became an adherent of a healthy diet.
• After school, Ali got a certificate for a visit, but not a diploma, which is issued upon successful graduation. Problems with reading he remained until his death.
• During his career 37 fights boxer finished ahead of schedule - 12 of them were pure knockouts and 25 - technical.
• In the second round in the fight against Ken Norton broke his opponent's jaw, but he refused to stop the fight and boxed 12 rounds with a broken.
• His fight with George Foreman was the first fight for the championship at heavyweight in history, which took place on the African continent.
• The third fight Muhammad Ali - Frazier went down in history as one of the most difficult and the greatest among the fights in the heavyweight division. It lasted 14 rounds and is known as the "Thrilla in Manila".

Here's a he, the legendary boxer!