Here are the reasons why he assumed such magnitude and had such a profound impact on both boxing and the culture at large. A Fighting Champion: Unlike so many elite-level boxers of today, Muhammad Ali wanted to establish himself as a truly great boxer and he knew to do so meant staying active. Meanwhile, from to , Wladimir Klitschko competed twelve times; Floyd Mayweather just nine. Speed: There is little doubt that a prime Ali is the fastest heavyweight to have ever stepped through the ropes.
His quickness and mobility was a revelation in the s; big men simply did not move like that. Years past his prime, Ali still enjoyed a decided speed advantage over most of his opponents, a testament to his astonishing athleticism.
Chin: One of the ironies of the career of Muhammad Ali is that for years the old-timers questioned his courage and toughness. They watched him dance and slip punches and concluded if he was ever hit squarely by a serious puncher he would fold up like a cheap suitcase. How wrong they were. In fact, Ali proved too tough for his own good. Precious few boxers in the history of the sport have withstood the kind of firepower Ali took from Frazier , Norton, Foreman, Shavers and Holmes.
Incredibly strong and powerful, in he was regarded as just shy of invincible. An aura of menace surrounded this ex-con and former leg-breaker for the mob, his reputation so dark that many were of the conviction he did not merit the opportunity to fight for the world title, despite the fact he had defeated virtually every viable contender prior to facing champion Floyd Patterson.
He then demolished Patterson inside of one round; in the rematch, he did the same. Thus, many were predicting a long and dominant championship reign for Liston and when he agreed to face the undefeated Cassius Clay in his first title defense, virtually every boxing pundit and expert foresaw an easy win for the champion. The Return: Elite-level athletes rarely come back after lengthy lay-offs to re-establish themselves as the best of the best.
Does anyone think that say Sidney Crosby, or Lebron James, or Tom Brady could sit out three-and-a-half seasons and then just pick up where they left off? The Louisville Lip: Early in his career, Ali witnessed professional wrestler Gorgeous George perform and realized that being loud, brash and boastful attracts attention and sells tickets.
Like a giant-sized Henry Armstrong , Frazier applied constant pressure, breaking down his opponents with a non-stop attack and maybe the best left hook in boxing history. Ali and Frazier were a study in contrasts while being virtual equals in terms of strength, courage and will to win, all of which made for an unforgettable rivalry.
Frazier was victorious in their first great battle in , one of the most significant fights ever and a match which not only transcended boxing, but sports itself; Ali won the next two clashes. Instead, the second someone challenged him or questioned his supremacy, he responded as all truly great competitors do and sought to prove himself again. Any sensible ranking of the greatest heavyweight champions of all-time has to put him in the top ten, and in he was regarded, like Sonny Liston before him, as unbeatable.
How could an ageing Ali defeat a younger, stronger and more powerful opponent? And yet he did. This is the great triumph that transformed Muhammad Ali from a famous boxer and an important figure in the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, to a genuine living legend.
He was a leading figure during the upheaval of the s in America; a prominent and outspoken critic of American society; an anti-war activist arrested for refusing the draft and denied his right to box during his prime years; a world figure for becoming a Muslim and changing his name. There is no way to overstate the significance of all this. Ali loved people and refused to cut himself off from the press or the public. His training camps were always open to visitors and it was the extremely rare request for an interview that he declined.
While Floyd Mayweather Jr. And while boxers today may refrain from discussing their personal lives or avoid making themselves available to the media, Ali did the opposite. He loved answering questions and being challenged by interviewers and held nothing back.
His integrity, the fact he stood for something bigger than boxing, along with his openness, sense of humor, and natural charisma, all coalesced with his ring success to make him a superstar. Books, television specials, comics, games, toys, movies, plays, video games; accolades and tributes from people like James Brown, Diana Ross, Madonna, Norman Mailer; honorary degrees from universities and the Presidential Medal of Freedom; a museum and cultural center established in his name in Louisville, Kentucky; the Olympic flame lit by his trembling hand in — Ali became, and will forever be, larger than life.
Love the man. He gave pride to his people without taking anything away from others. And he was a hero to every young kid. Muhammad Ali was a good man and a world figure. I agree: Muhammad Ali was one of the finest athletes I have ever had the pleasure to watch. He stood behind everything he said and I miss him immensely. What an honor it was to watch his fights. I still go to Youtube today and watch him. He cut his first album in when he was still Cassius Clay, a spoken word record on Columbia called I Am the Greatest!
Tooth Decay. With his embrace of whimsical poesy, Ali brought a touch of gentility to the most brutal of athletic pursuits. Newswire Powered by. Close the menu. Rolling Stone. Log In. To help keep your account secure, please log-in again.
You are no longer onsite at your organization. A red-and-white Schwinn bicycle launched his boxing career. Martin, who was also a boxing trainer, Louis, an African American, is perhaps best known for his legendary matchups against German boxer Max The accomplishments of Muhammad Ali are renowned: Olympic gold medalist, heavyweight boxing champion, humanitarian, civil rights activist.
But would you believe he also was a Grammy Award nominee in and ? Trading in his boxing gloves and shorts for black tie and tails, Historically, Black women in sports faced double discrimination due to their gender and race. A number of African American female athletes have emerged as trailblazers in their particular sports over the years, from track and field and tennis to figure skating and basketball. After being allowed entry to the When the British landed there in , at the start of the American Revolution, Richmond did He was known as the Galveston Giant—a boxer who fought his way toward the first world heavyweight title held by an African-American.
But in , Jack Johnson became something else: a wanted man. Accused of violating the Mann Act, which forbade transporting a woman across state Malcolm X was an African American leader in the civil rights movement, minister and supporter of Black nationalism.
Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Recommended for you. How the Troubles Began in Northern Ireland. Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali on Sports and Politics. Black History Month. Muhammad Ali vs.
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