Muhammad Ali Passes Away

Muhammad Ali, The Greatest boxer and one of the best known icons in sporting history, has passed away at the age of 74. Media reports circulated say that the former three time world heavyweight champion died in hospital in Phoenix,Arizona, where he spent the past two days, family spokesman Bob Gunnell told NBC News.

Ali, who had been suffering from Parkinson’s syndrome for many years, was hospitalized for a respiratory issue on Thursday.

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942. In the early days of his career Ali was best known for being a highly controversial outspoken character which created as much attention outside the ring as it did inside.

The young Cassius Clay, began boxing at age 12 and at 18 won the light heavyweight Gold Medal at the Rome Olympic Games In 1960.

By age 22 Cassius Clay as he was then was crowned world heavyweight championship in 1964 when he shocked the world to destroy the seemingly invincible Sonny Liston inside six rounds. Many experts at the time thought the young ‘Louisville Lip’ got lucky but little over a year later, Clay, who by this time had converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, ko’d Liston inside a round. The legend was born.

In 1967, Ali refused to be conscripted into the U.S. military, citing religious beliefs and because he did not agree with the US going into Vietnam. He was found guilty of draft dodging and stripped of his heavyweight title.

Ali’s decision to refusal to be constricted kept him out of the ring for four years. Ali mounted a series of appeals in the US Supreme court at considerable cost but his perseverance paid off in 1971 when his conviction was overturned.

The second phase of his colorful and highly successful career was arguably more successful than the first as he was involved in some of the greatest battles in heavyweight boxing history including three brutal wars with bitter rival Joe Frazier, and one with George Foreman,

Ali was indeed a one off unique human being. He not only talked the talk, he walked the walk on many occasions. As a boxer he fought in arguably the most talented heavyweight era against the likes of Liston,Frazier, Foreman,Floyd Patterson, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Larry Holmes and many more. Ali retired in 1981 with a record of 56 wins, 5 defeats, 37, ko’s. Ali only failed to last the distance, once and that was a 10^th round retirement against the great Larry Holmes in the twilight of his career.

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June 3, 2016

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June 3, 2016