Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer in history

Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, before converting to Islam. Several years have passed since the death of the greatest boxer in history, after being hospitalized with what appeared to be simple pneumonia. It was June 3, 2016.

The former boxer, considered by many to be the greatest champion ever and an Olympic star at Rome 1960 in the light heavyweight category, last appeared in public in September 2014 to participate in his hometown of Louisville (Kentucky). ceremony of the “Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award”, during which, however, he did not speak.

A three-time world champion, Clay is one of the most famous former boxers in the world, one of the most popular sportsmen of all time. In 2001, his story also attracted director Michael Mann who cast Will Smith to play the wrestler. And indeed Ali’s life is perfect for a movie. During the champion’s funeral, Will Smith carried the coffin.

Beyond sporting records – he held the heavyweight world title from 1964 to 1967, 1974 to 1978, and again for a brief period again in 1978 – he is also known for converting to Islam for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War goes. For his friendship with Malcolm X. Suffering from Parkinson’s syndrome, in recent years he has devoted his time to charitable activities.

meeting with sonny liston

Although Ali’s career is limitless, the fight for which he is most famous (but according to experts, not his best), was on February 25, 1964 with Sonny Liston, which was listed by Sports Illustrated magazine as the most iconic sporting event. was included in 20th century.

Liston was a boxing black legend and was considered the best heavyweight of all time. No one had the courage to face him, also because of his history: he had learned boxing in prison where he had been incarcerated for armed robbery and worked as a thug for Lucchese family mafia assassin Frankie Carbo. Was.
Cassius Clay, on the other hand, was just 22 years old, still virtually unknown despite winning the gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Nobody could bet on him, not even Liston, who didn’t really practically prepare for the match.

The match went seven rounds, and Liston finally gave up: completely exhausted, he left the ring and Clay raised his gloves to the sky in victory and shouted “I’m the Greatest”. That was the real beginning of his legend.