Boxing career of Muhammad Ali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Muhammad Ali
Ali in 1976
Statistics
Nickname(s)	The Greatest
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in
Reach	78 in
Nationality	American
Born	(1942-01-17)January 17, 1942 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	June 3, 2016(2016-06-03) (aged 74) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	61
Wins	56
Wins by KO	37
Losses	5
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Olympic Games Representing  United States Gold 1960 Rome Light-heavyweight Intercity Golden Gloves Gold 1959 Chicago Light-heavyweight Gold 1960 New York Heavyweight Chicago Golden Gloves Gold 1959 Chicago Light-heavyweight Gold 1960 Chicago Light-heavyweight US National Championships Gold 1959 Toledo Light-heavyweight Gold 1960 Toledo Light-heavyweight

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., is known as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers ever. Many experts and historians agree he was the best. In 1999, The Associated Press called him the top heavyweight of the 20th century. He was also named the second greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound, by ESPN. Ali was welcomed into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its very first group in 1990.

Early Career

On-site poster for Cassius Clay's fifth professional bout

Cassius Clay started his professional boxing career on October 29, 1960. He won his first fight against Tunney Hunsaker. By the end of 1963, Clay had an amazing record of 19 wins and no losses. He won 15 of those fights by knockout. He beat many boxers, including Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, and Henry Cooper. He even defeated his former trainer, Archie Moore, in 1962.

These early fights were not always easy. Clay was knocked down by Sonny Banks and Henry Cooper. In the Cooper fight, he was hit hard at the end of round four. But he recovered quickly between rounds. He then won the fight in the fifth round because Cooper's eye was badly cut. His fight with Doug Jones in March 1963 was very tough. Clay won, but the crowd booed the decision. The Ring magazine called it the "Fight of the Year."

In these early years, Clay often talked a lot before his fights. He would tease his opponents and brag about his own skills. He got this idea from a professional wrestler named "Gorgeous George" Wagner. Ali said that meeting Gorgeous George in 1961 inspired him to use bold words in interviews.

In 1960, Clay left Moore's training camp. He then hired Angelo Dundee to be his new trainer. Clay had first met Dundee in 1957 when he was still an amateur boxer. Around this time, Clay also tried to get his idol, Sugar Ray Robinson, to be his manager, but Robinson said no.

Becoming World Champion

First Fights Against Liston

By late 1963, Clay was ready to challenge Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title. Their fight was set for February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida. Liston was a very strong and scary fighter. Many people thought Clay would lose, as Liston had easily beaten other champions. Clay was a 7-1 underdog. But Clay teased Liston a lot before the fight. He called him "the big ugly bear" and said he would "donate him to the zoo." Clay's behavior at the weigh-in was wild. He shouted at Liston, and his heart rate was very high. Some people thought Clay was just scared.

The fight's outcome was a huge surprise. Clay used his amazing speed and quickness to avoid Liston's punches. He made Liston miss a lot. By the end of the first round, Clay started hitting Liston with jabs. Liston fought better in round two. But in the third round, Clay hit Liston with a combination that cut his eye. This was the first time Liston had ever been cut. At the end of round four, Clay had pain in his eyes. He asked his trainer to cut off his gloves. It was thought that ointment from Liston's corner might have caused the problem.

Clay managed to survive the fifth round even with blurry vision. In the sixth round, he took control, hitting Liston many times. Liston did not come out for the seventh round. Clay won by TKO. Liston said his shoulder was injured. After winning, Clay famously shouted, "I am the greatest! I shook up the world. I'm the prettiest thing that ever lived."

At 22 years old, Clay became the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight title from a reigning champion. (Mike Tyson later broke this record in 1986 at age 20).

Soon after the Liston fight, Clay changed his name to Cassius X. Then he changed it again to Muhammad Ali when he became a Muslim. Ali had a rematch with Liston in May 1965. The fight was controversial. In the first round, Liston was knocked down by a punch that was hard to see. It was called a "phantom punch." The referee didn't start counting right away because Ali wouldn't go to a neutral corner. Liston got up, but the fight was stopped because he had been down for too long. Ali won by knockout. The whole fight lasted less than two minutes.

Some people thought Liston might have fallen on purpose. But slow-motion replays show Ali did hit him with a strong punch.

Fighting Floyd Patterson

Ali defended his title against former champion Floyd Patterson on November 22, 1965. Before the fight, Ali made fun of Patterson. Ali clearly had the upper hand. Patterson seemed injured during the fight. The match lasted 12 rounds before Ali won by technical knockout. Ali was criticized for seeming to play with Patterson during the fight. Patterson later said Ali's punches were very soft.

Main Bout Company

After the Patterson fight, Ali started his own company called Main Bout. This company helped promote Ali's boxing matches. It also handled the pay-per-view broadcasts of his fights. Many of the company's owners were members of the Nation of Islam, Ali's religious group.

Defending His Title

Ali in 1966

Ali was supposed to fight Ernie Terrell in March 1966. But Ali was reclassified for the army draft. He said he would refuse to serve. Because of this, the Illinois Athletic Commission would not allow the fight.

Instead, Ali went to Canada and Europe. He won championship fights against George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London, and Karl Mildenberger.

Ali came back to the United States to fight Cleveland Williams in Houston in November 1966. A huge crowd of 35,460 people watched the fight. Williams had been a very strong puncher. But he had been seriously injured in 1964. Ali easily beat Williams, winning by TKO in the third round. Many people think this was one of Ali's best performances.

Ali fought Terrell in Houston on February 6, 1967. Terrell was a tough opponent. He had not lost in five years. The fight was close until the seventh round. Then Ali hurt Terrell and almost knocked him out. In the eighth round, Ali teased Terrell. He hit him and shouted, "What's my name?" Ali won after 15 rounds. Terrell said Ali poked him in the eye early in the fight. Some critics thought Ali was too harsh. But Ali denied being cruel.

After Ali's fight against Zora Folley in March 1967, he was stripped of his title. This happened because he refused to join the army. His boxing license was also taken away. He was found guilty of draft evasion. He was sentenced to prison and a fine. But he stayed free while he appealed the decision.

Time Away and Comeback

In March 1966, Ali refused to join the armed forces. He was not allowed to box in any state. His passport was also taken away. Because of this, he did not fight from March 1967 to October 1970. He was between 25 and 29 years old during this time. His case went through many appeals. His conviction was finally overturned in 1971. During this time, more people started to disagree with the Vietnam War. Ali's decision gained sympathy. He spoke at colleges, talking about the war and supporting African-American pride.

The Fantasy Fight

While he was banned from real fights, Ali took part in a special fantasy fight. He fought against retired champion Rocky Marciano. This was for a lawsuit settlement. In 1969, they filmed themselves sparring for many rounds. They acted out different endings. A computer program was used to decide the winner. Edited versions of the fight were shown in movie theaters in 1970. In the U.S. version, Ali lost. In the European version, Marciano lost.

Ali joked that the computer that decided he lost was "made in Alabama."

Return to Boxing

On August 11, 1970, Ali was given a license to box in Atlanta. His first fight back was against Jerry Quarry on October 26. Ali won after three rounds when Quarry was cut.

A month before, a court decision allowed Ali to get his license back in New York. He fought Oscar Bonavena in December. Ali won by TKO in the 15th round. This win made Ali a top contender for the heavyweight title.

First Fight Against Joe Frazier

Ali and Joe Frazier's first fight was on March 8, 1971. It was called the "Fight of the Century." Everyone was excited because both fighters were undefeated. A boxing writer called it "the greatest event I've ever worked on." The fight was shown in 35 countries.

Ali started training at a farm in Pennsylvania in 1971. He liked the quiet country setting. He decided to build his own training camp there. This camp became where he trained for all his fights from 1972 until he retired in 1981.

The fight lived up to its name. Frazier was always moving forward, hitting Ali with jabs and combinations. Ali took more punches than ever before. In the later rounds, Ali used a new tactic called the "rope-a-dope." He leaned against the ropes and let Frazier hit him. Ali hoped this would tire Frazier out. In the final round, Frazier knocked Ali down with a powerful left hook. Ali got up quickly. But Ali lost the fight by a unanimous decision. It was his first professional defeat.

Challenging Wilt Chamberlain

In 1971, basketball star Wilt Chamberlain challenged Ali to a fight. A match was planned for July 26. Chamberlain was much taller and heavier than Ali. But Ali managed to make Chamberlain back out of the fight. Ali teased him by shouting "Timber!" and "The tree will fall!" during an interview. Chamberlain's team offered him a huge contract if he stopped boxing. He agreed. To replace Chamberlain, Ali's promoter quickly found Jimmy Ellis. Ellis was a childhood friend of Ali's from Louisville, Kentucky.

More Big Fights

After losing to Frazier, Ali fought Jerry Quarry again. He also had a second fight with Floyd Patterson. In 1972, he faced Bob Foster. Ali won all six of his fights that year. In 1973, Ken Norton broke Ali's jaw. Ali lost that fight, his second professional loss. Ali thought about retiring. But he then won a close decision against Norton in their second fight. This led to a rematch with Joe Frazier in January 1974. Frazier had recently lost his title to George Foreman.

Second Fight Against Joe Frazier

Ali started strong in the second fight against Frazier. He hurt Frazier in the second round. The referee mistakenly stopped the action, giving Frazier time to recover. Frazier fought back in the middle rounds. He hit Ali hard in round seven. The last four rounds were back and forth. Ali was able to avoid Frazier's strong left hook. He also held Frazier often when they were close. Ali won by a unanimous decision.

Champion Again

The Rumble in the Jungle

Beating Frazier set up a title fight against heavyweight champion George Foreman. The fight was in Zaire on October 30, 1974. It was called The Rumble in the Jungle. Foreman was known as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. Many experts thought Ali would lose. Foreman had easily beaten both Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. Ali was 32 years old and seemed slower. Almost no one thought Ali could win.

Ali in 1974

Ali started the fight by moving and hitting Foreman with right punches. But in the second round, Ali surprised everyone. He went to the ropes and let Foreman hit him. Ali covered up, held onto Foreman, and hit back. He also teased Foreman with words. This tactic became known as the "Rope-a-dope." It was a very risky move. Foreman got angrier and threw many punches that missed or were blocked. As Foreman got tired, Ali hit him more often. In the eighth round, Ali knocked out a tired Foreman. Ali had won the title again! George Foreman later said, "I thought Ali was just one more knockout victim until, about the seventh round, I hit him hard to the jaw and he held me and whispered in my ear: 'That all you got, George?' I realized that this ain't what I thought it was."

President Jimmy Carter greets Ali at a White House dinner, 1977

More Title Defenses

Ali's next opponents included Chuck Wepner, Ron Lyle, and Joe Bugner. Wepner surprised Ali by knocking him down in the ninth round. Ali later said he tripped. This fight inspired the famous movie Rocky.

The Thrilla in Manila

Ali then agreed to a third fight with Joe Frazier in Manila. This fight was called the "Thrilla in Manila." It happened on October 1, 1975, in very hot weather. In the first rounds, Ali was aggressive. But he soon got tired and used the "rope-a-dope" strategy again. Ali absorbed many punches from Frazier. In the 12th round, Frazier started to tire. Ali landed strong punches that closed Frazier's left eye. Ali dominated the 13th and 14th rounds. Frazier's trainer stopped the fight before the 15th round. Frazier's eyes were both swollen shut. Ali won by TKO.

Ali was completely exhausted after the fight. He said it "was the closest thing to dying that I know." He later called Frazier "the greatest fighter of all times next to me."

Later Boxing Years

Ali being interviewed by WBAL-TV's Curt Anderson, 1978, Baltimore, Maryland

After the Manila fight, Ali fought Jean-Pierre Coopman, Jimmy Young, and Richard Dunn. He won his last fight against Dunn by knockout.

On June 26, 1976, Ali had a special exhibition match in Tokyo. He fought against Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki. Ali could only land two jabs. Inoki's kicks caused injuries to Ali's leg. The match was not planned out, and it ended in a draw. Many boxing experts didn't like the fight at the time. But today, some people see it as an early example of mixed martial arts.

Ali fought Ken Norton for a third time in September 1976. Ali won a very close decision. The crowd booed the outcome. After this, Ali said he was retiring from boxing to focus on his faith.

Ali returned for two exhibition fights in April 1977. He then defended his title against Alfredo Evangelista in May. Ali fought again in September 1977. He struggled in a tough fight against Earnie Shavers. Ali was hurt in the second round but won by decision. His long-time doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, quit after this fight. Pacheco felt Ali should retire because of his health.

In February 1978, Ali fought Leon Spinks. Spinks was a new boxer with only seven professional fights. Ali was not in good shape for the fight. He lost his title by a split decision. Ali wanted to win his title back. A rematch was set for September 1978.

Ali trained very hard for the rematch. He even went to Moscow for exhibition fights. He was determined to win back his title. The Spinks rematch took place in New Orleans. A record-breaking crowd of 63,350 people watched. Ali was fitter and sharper. He moved around Spinks and hit him from a distance. He also held his younger opponent when he got too close. Ali won by a clear decision. This made Ali the first heavyweight champion to win the title three times.

After this win, Ali announced his retirement in July 1979. But he came back to fight Larry Holmes in 1980. Ali wanted to win the heavyweight championship a fourth time. He also needed money. Holmes' trainer said, "Larry didn't want to fight Ali. He knew Ali had nothing left."

Around this time, Ali started having trouble speaking and his hands trembled. He had a medical check-up. The Mayo Clinic said he was fit to fight. The fight happened on October 2, 1980. Holmes easily beat Ali. Ali was weakened from medication he took to lose weight. In the eleventh round, Ali's trainer stopped the fight. This was the only time Ali lost by stoppage. Many people believe this fight contributed to Ali's later health problems. Despite pleas to stop, Ali fought one last time in December 1981 against Trevor Berbick. He lost that fight.

By the end of his boxing career, Ali had taken many punches.

Ali's Boxing Style

Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves are preserved in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.

Ali had a very unique boxing style for a heavyweight. His famous saying was "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Early in his career, Ali was not a super powerful puncher. He used his incredible hand speed, quick reflexes, and constant movement. He would dance and move around his opponents. He kept his hands low and threw quick jabs from surprising angles. His footwork was so good that opponents found it very hard to trap him. He could also dodge punches quickly with his head and foot movements.

One of Ali's best tricks was to make opponents miss. He would pull straight back from punches. Other boxers would chase him and lose their balance trying to hit him. This left them open for Ali's counter punches. Ali often showed off his movement with the "Ali Shuffle." This was a quick dance in the middle of the ring. Ali's early style was so unusual that some experts didn't think he would be good enough.

A manager named Jimmy Jacobs measured Ali's punching speed. He found Ali was 25% faster than Sugar Ray Robinson, who was considered one of the best fighters ever. Ali's punches could create about 1,000 pounds of force. Charlie Powell, who fought Ali early on, said, "He throws punches so easily that you don't realize how much they hurt you until it's too late."

George Chuvalo, another opponent, said, "He was just so fast. When he was young, he moved his legs and hands at the same time." Floyd Patterson added, "It's very hard to hit a moving target, and (Ali) moved all the time, with such grace."

Darrell Foster, who trained Will Smith for the movie Ali, said Ali had many ways to jab. One was a low jab like a cobra strike. Another was a rapid-fire jab to blur the opponent's vision.

Amazing Footwork

Ali made a special "dancing" style of footwork popular in the 1960s. He moved side to side, and back and forth. He bounced on the balls of his feet. This allowed him to move quickly anywhere in the ring. He also did the "Ali shuffle," quickly moving his feet back and forth to confuse opponents before hitting them. His footwork was called "dancing legs."

Ali's footwork even influenced martial artist Bruce Lee. Lee studied Ali's moves and used them in his own fighting style.

His Famous "Trash-Talk"

Ali often teased and challenged his opponents before and during fights. He called Frazier "too dumb to be champion." He said he would whip Liston "like his Daddy did." He called Terrell an "Uncle Tom" for not using his new name. He called Patterson a "rabbit" and Foreman "a mummy." One writer said Ali's strategy to anger Liston was "the most brilliant fight strategy in boxing history."

Ali often presented himself as the "people's champion." He would say his opponent was a tool of the powerful. Early in his career, he would predict the round he would win. He learned this from professional wrestler "Gorgeous George" Wagner. Wagner told him, "A lot of people will pay to see someone shut your mouth. So keep on bragging, keep on sassing and always be outrageous."

ESPN called Ali "The King of Trash Talk." The Guardian said Ali showed off boxing's "golden age of trash-talking."

Later Style Changes

In his later career, Ali became very smart in the ring. He was excellent at clinching. He used clinches to rest and to tire out his opponents. He would lean on them and push to wear them down. He seemed to know everything happening in the fight.

In the mid-1970s, Ali became interested in Asian martial arts like karate. The founder of American taekwondo, Jhoon Goo Rhee, coached Ali for some fights. Rhee taught him a fast punching technique called the "accupunch." Ali used this punch to knock out Richard Dunn in 1976.

Ali and Other Boxers

His Friendship with Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier said he first met Ali around 1968. At that time, Ali was trying to get his boxing license back. Frazier was the heavyweight champion. Frazier worked hard to help Ali get his license. He even went to Washington to talk to the president. Frazier also lent Ali some money.

Frazier wanted Ali to return to boxing. He believed beating Ali would prove he was the best. Frazier was kind to Ali during this time. He even took part in fake arguments to help Ali get publicity. Frazier respected Ali's religious beliefs. He even went to Muslim services with Ali. Frazier supported Ali's refusal to join the army.

Ali and Frazier knew they would earn a lot of money if Ali returned to the ring. Before their first fight, they both said they liked each other. Ali said in 1970, "Me and Joe Frazier will be buddies."

Great Rivalries

Ali and Frazier fought three times in five years. Their first and third fights are considered some of the greatest boxing matches ever. Their rivalry is one of the best in all sports.

Ali said Frazier's boxing style made him a tougher opponent than Liston or Foreman. This was because Ali was vulnerable to Frazier's left hook. Ali believed if he had fought Frazier before his three-and-a-half-year break, he would have danced for 15 rounds and Frazier would not have caught him.

After their third fight, Frazier called Ali "a great champion." Ali said Frazier was "the greatest fighter of all time next to me."

Boxing Achievements

Major World Titles

• WBA heavyweight champion (4 times)
• WBC heavyweight champion (2 times)

Other World Titles

• The Ring heavyweight champion (3 times)
• Lineal heavyweight champion (3 times)

Regional Titles

• NABF heavyweight champion (3 times)
• National Golden Gloves champion (2 times)
• Kentucky Golden Gloves champion (6 times)

Honorary Titles and Awards

• AAU champion (2 times)
• Olympic light heavyweight champion (gold medal in 1960)
• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
• Associated Press Athlete of the Year
• International Press Athlete of the Year
• BWAA Fighter of the Year (3 times)
• International Boxing Hall of Fame
• The Ring Fighter of the Year (6 times)
• The Ring Fight of the Year (6 times)

Special Awards

• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century
• BBC Sports Personality of the Century
• CSHL Double Helix Medal Honoree
• Martin Luther King Memorial Award
• Presidential Citizens Medal
• Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Otto Hahn Peace Medal
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Philadelphia Liberty Medal

Professional Fight Record

Exhibition Fight Record

Exhibition matches do not count on a boxer's official record.

Watching Ali's Fights

Muhammad Ali's fights were some of the most-watched television broadcasts in the world. Between 1974 and 1980, some of his fights were seen by 1 to 2 billion people worldwide. They were the most-watched live TV events at the time.

Pay-Per-View Fights

The first type of pay-per-view boxing was called closed-circuit television. Fights were shown live in special places like theaters. People paid to watch the fight there. This was very popular with Ali's fights in the 1960s and 1970s. Ali's company, Main Bout, handled most of these broadcasts.

Professional boxing also came to home cable television with Ali's fights. The "Thrilla in Manila" fight in 1975 was shown on HBO. Ali had several fights broadcast on early pay-per-view home television.

See also

• List of heavyweight boxing champions
• List of WBA world champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of The Ring world champions
• List of undisputed boxing champions
• Notable boxing families