Childhood and Early Life
Muhammad Ali, born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, grew up in a poor household in the segregated south. He experienced racism, discrimination and racial prejudice from an early age. His boxing journey began when a Kentucky police officer taught him the first technicalities and punches after his bike was stolen.
Boxing Career and His Unique Style
Ali decided to stay in his amateur career to compete in the Olympics in 1960. Despite being 18, he won all four fights easily and returned to Louisville as a local hero. His unique boxing style and trash talk, used to intimidate opponents, gained him media attention and even impacted global hip hop culture.
Muhammad Ali's Boxing Style
Muhammad Ali's boxing style was unique and consisted of outboxing his opponents. His footwork and reflexes set him apart in the ring, making him an outboxer.
Fights for Civil Rights
Ali, who converted to Islam and became a Muslim during the 1960s, strongly opposed serving in the Vietnam War, leading to the withdrawal of his heavyweight title. His reasons were based on religious grounds and his refusal to fight while black people were being denied human rights and Muslims were not accepted.
The following year, he was stripped of his boxing license, which destroyed his livelihood at the peak of his career. However, this did not stop him from visiting universities across the country to speak about civil rights, bringing wider attention to the problem. His influence galvanized the civil rights movement, and he gained popularity among the black community.
In his efforts for civil rights, Ali was recognized as a UN Messenger of Peace in 1998, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, and received the MLK award in 1970. He stood with Martin Luther King Jr. in the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. His iconic words, "Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong," continue to resonate.
Muhammad Ali's legacy goes beyond his prowess in the boxing ring. He used his fame and platform to fight against injustice, racism, and discrimination, leaving an indelible mark on the world.
