Boxing-Mohamad Ali

The Man Behind the Mask

Muhammad Ali was one of the most recognizable people in the world. He was a champion in and out of the ring. His outspoken, brash personality captivated audiences around the world. And, his iconic style made him one of the most influential figures in political history. But, how much do you know about Muhammad Ali?

Clay, who is originally from Louisville Kentucky, began boxing when he was 12 years old. Clay turned pro at 18, and changed his name to Mohammad Ali when he converted to Islam.

In 1965, after his refusal to be drafted into the US military, he was arrested and stripped of his heavyweight title

In 1967, after winning back his title from Smokin' Joe Frazier (in what is now called The Fight of the Century), Clay changed his name again - this time to Muhammad Ali.

In 1971, he regained his belts when he defeated Joe Frazier in The Rumble in the Jungle

This event is considered by many to be "the greatest sporting event of all time." It took place before an estimated live audience of over 200 million people worldwide and had an estimated global TV audience of 1 billion viewers. It also helped fuel Black Nationalism across Africa and America.

Muhammad Ali's Early Career

- At the age of 18, Cassius Clay won a gold medal for boxing at the 1960 Olympics in Rome

- In 1964, he won the World Heavyweight Championship and changed his name to Muhammad Ali

- In 1967, he was drafted by the military, but refused service as he had been a conscientious objector since 1967

- He was arrested and found guilty on draft evasion charges, stripped of his title, fined $10,000 and sentenced to five years in prison

- His conviction was overturned by the United States Supreme Court in 1971.

6 Facts About Muhammad Ali That You Might Not Know

Muhammad Ali is an icon. He is a legend. He has been the face of boxing for decades. His outspoken personality and iconic style makes him one of the most recognizable athletes in history. And, he's also one of the most influential figures in political history. But, how much do you know about Muhammad Ali?

This blog will cover 6 fascinating facts about the late boxing champion that you may not know:

1) Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay

2) In 1965, after his refusal to be drafted into the US military, he was arrested and stripped of his heavyweight title

3) In 1971, he regained his belts when he defeated Joe Frazier in The Fight of the Century

4) The Rumble in the Jungle was considered by many to be "the greatest sporting event of all time"

5) At age 22 years old, he became a professional boxer and changed his name from Cassius Clay

6) Muhammad Ali stands among a small number of elite athletes who can truly be called “The Greatest”

In 1971, he regained his belts when he defeated Joe Frazier in The Fight of the Century

In 1971, Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in what many consider to be the greatest sporting event of all time. It was a hard fought battle, but Ali ultimately won with a TKO in the 15th round. This fight was known as The Fight of the Century and it took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as Congo). It was broadcasted live on television across the world. In fact, it was so popular that the entire country came to a stop at 9:00pm local time. At this time, many people were gathering around their televisions to watch the match.

This fight is considered one of Ali's most important fights because he regained his heavyweight title belt and became world heavyweight champion once again before going on to win two more belts. He would go on to defend his title another 8 times over the next 3 years before retiring from boxing in 1981.

"The Rumble in the Jungle" was considered by many to be "the greatest sporting event of all time"

Muhammad Ali was considered the underdog in The Rumble in the Jungle. George Foreman, a fighter that had won his last five heavyweight title bouts by knockout, was favored to win. But, Ali relied on his speed and intelligence to become the first man to take a professional title from Foreman. He combined his fast footwork and quick combinations with a tireless body attack to wear down Foreman and eventually stop him in eight rounds.

The fight is still considered one of the greatest boxing matches in history.