FULL NAME: Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
BORN: January 17, 1942
DIED: June 3, 2016
BIRTHPLACE: Louisville, Kentucky
SPOUSES: Sonji Roi (1964-1965), Belinda Boyd (1967-1977), Veronica Porché (1977-1986), and Yolanda Williams (1986-2016)
CHILDREN: Maryum, Jamillah, Rasheda, Muhammad Jr., Miya, Khaliah, Hana, Laila Ali, and Asaad
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn
Early Life
Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. His birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
At an early age, young Clay showed that he wasn’t afraid of any bout—inside or outside of the ring. Growing up in the segregated South, he experienced racial prejudice and discrimination firsthand.
At the age of 12, Clay stumbled upon his boxing talent in a peculiar turn of events. When his bike was stolen, he confided in police officer Joe Martin about his desire to confront the thief. Martin, who not only served as a police officer but also trained young boxers at a local gym, advised Clay, saying, “Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people.”
Taking Martin's guidance to heart, Clay began training with him, marking the initiation of his boxing journey. In his inaugural amateur bout in 1954, Clay emerged victorious with a split decision. His prowess continued to grow, culminating in his win at the 1956 Golden Gloves tournament for novices in the light heavyweight class. Three years later, he achieved success in the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions and secured the Amateur Athletic Union’s national title for the light heavyweight division.
While attending predominantly Black public schools, including Louisville's Central High School from 1956 to 1960, Clay's focus on boxing often took precedence. Despite his tendency to daydream in class and practice shadowboxing in the hallways as he trained for the 1960 Olympics, his academic performance suffered. Some teachers even considered holding him back from graduation due to his low grades. However, the school's principal, Atwood Wilson, recognized Clay's potential and opposed such a decision, wryly remarking to the staff, “Do you think I’m going to be the principal of a school that Cassius Clay didn’t finish?”
Olympic Gold
In 1960, Clay won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team and traveled to Rome to compete. At 6 feet, 3 inches tall, Clay was an imposing figure in the ring, but he also became known for his lightning speed and fancy footwork. After winning his first three bouts, Clay defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski of Poland to win the light heavyweight Olympic gold medal.
After his Olympic victory, Clay was heralded as an American hero. He soon turned professional with the backing of the Louisville Sponsoring Group and continued overwhelming all opponents in the ring.
Relationship With Malcolm X and Conversion to Islam
Clay encountered the charismatic minister of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, at a rally in Detroit in June 1962. Impressed by Malcolm X's bold and compelling oratory, the two formed a friendship, leading Clay to deepen his involvement with the Black Muslim group. Malcolm X even assigned an associate to oversee Clay’s day-to-day affairs.
In 1964, Malcolm X visited Clay and his family while he was training in Florida for the February 25 title fight against Sonny Liston. Clay's triumph over Liston marked the attainment of his first world heavyweight boxing championship. Following the victory, the two, along with Jim Brown and Sam Cooke, spent an introspective evening in a hotel room—an event later inspiring the One Night in Miami stage play and the 2020 drama film.
On February 26, the morning after the bout, Clay publicly declared his alignment with the Nation of Islam. Initially adopting the name Cassius X, he eventually settled on Muhammad Ali. Interestingly, Ali's allegiance was with the supreme leader Elijah Muhammad, not the exiled Malcolm X. The friendship between Ali and Malcolm X quickly fractured, leading to their parting ways by that spring.
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