Monday, January 9, 2012

Boxing Career of Muhammad Ali


Born in 1942 as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Muhammad Ali officially changed his name in 1963. Ali began training in the sport of boxing at the young age of 12. In 1960, when Ali was just 18 years old, he was selected for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. He went on to win the gold medal. The boxing history of Ali includes several wins and three heavyweight titles.
Boxing Career
Ali's professional boxing career began in October 1960. Over the next 10 years, Ali defeated every opponent he fought. From the start of his boxing career, Ali's quick speed and strong right hand set him apart from other fighters. His overconfident personality and flair for boasting helped Ali secure a place in the public eye. After a 42-month suspension from the sport, Ali returned to boxing in 1970. His boxing career began to weaken in the late 1970s and he retired from boxing in 1981, just one day after losing his heavyweight title to Trevor Berbick.
Fight Records
With a total of 61 fights during his professional boxing career, Ali was defeated just five times. Of his 56 wins, 37 of them were won by knockout. Ali claimed his first world heavyweight title in 1964 after defeating Sonny Liston by knockout. In 1971, Ali went up against Joe Frazier in a fight that has since been nicknamed the "fight of the century," according to Biography.com. After 15 rounds, Frazier knocked out Ali and took control of his heavyweight title. In 1974, Ali regained his heavyweight title after defeating George Foreman. The following year, Ali faced Joe Frazier again for another 14 rounds. This time, Ali beat Frazier by knockout. Ali's heavyweight title was lost again in 1978 to Leon Spinks. However, he regained the title just a few months later.
Awards
Along with his 1960 Olympic gold medal in boxing and three world heavyweight championships, Ali secured a variety of other awards throughout his career. He earned six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles and one National Golden Glove title. Ali was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 and won the Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1992. In 2005, President George W. Bush awarded Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Just a few years later in 2009, Ali received the President's Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his public service work.
Retirement
Since Ali's retirement, he has dedicated much of his time to volunteer and philanthropy work. In 1984, Ali announced that he had Parkinson's Disease, a neurological condition. In 2005, he opened the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. When asked about his reasons for opening the Center, Ali responded that "I wanted a place that would inspire people to be the best that they could be at whatever they choose to do, and to encourage them to be respectful of one another," according to Biography.com.

 
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