American boxer (1942–2016)
People connected to Muhammad Ali
He refused the draft at the height of his powers, lost his titles and nearly four years in the ring, and came back anyway. The lip, the feet, the rope-a-dope — but also the line he wouldn't cross.
Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, he started boxing at 12, won Olympic gold in the light heavyweight division at 18 in 1960, and turned pro that same year. At 22, he upset Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title on February 25, 1964, then joined the Nation of Islam and shed his birth name as a slave name. In 1967 he refused the draft on religious and ethical grounds, was stripped of his titles, convicted of draft evasion, and didn't fight for nearly four years while appealing to the Supreme Court, which overturned the conviction in 1971. He reclaimed the undisputed championship from 1974 to 1978…
Sourced, dated quotes from Muhammad Ali
This is the legend of Cassius Clay, The most beautiful fighter in the world today. He talks a great deal, and brags indeed-y, Of a muscular punch that's incredibly speedy.
If Ali says a mosquito can pull a plow, don't ask how. Hitch him up.
Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.
I hated every minute of it. But I said to myself, 'Suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion'.
The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
News and signals about Muhammad Ali
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