Cassius Clay was born on 17th January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. At 12 years he began boxing. He met a police officer: Joe Martin. Joe Martin was his trainer. Cassius Clay had his first professional heavy-weight fight in Rome in 1960. In 1964 he had a fight against the champion Sonny Liston. Cassius Clay won easily, and he was at only 22 years of age, the best boxer in the world.
After this fight Cassius Clay turned to Allah. Clay was given the name Muhammad Ali. In 1964 Ali had to go to the Army, but Ali didn’t want to. He said: „I haven’t got quarrel with the Vietcong.“ Ali had to return his title and boxing licences and go to prison for 5 years. After 5 years Ali returned to the ring. Ali won, and he was the Champion again. His motto was: „ Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.“ The next fight in 1970 was a super fight. Ali boxed against Joe Freazer. He won the fight and was for the third time World Champion. One day in 1970, at the age of 37, Ali retired from professional boxing, with the record of 59 victories and three defeats.
After he retired from professional boxing, Muhammad Ali went through difficult times. His health was very bad. He started to suffer from Parkinson desease. In 1986 Ali married Loine Williams. In 1990 Ali went to Iraq and he freed fifteen US hostages. Muhammad Ali was once again the greatest in 1996, when he lit the Olympic fire in Atlanta. For me Muhammad Ali was the best boxer in the world.
I chose him, because he refused to go to the Army and he helped the poor people. Muhammad Ali never gave up. He is the Greatest.