‘THE GREATEST’: MUHAMMAD ALI REMEMBERED ON ANNIVERSARY OF BOXER'S BIRTHDAY

On January 17, the sports world remembers one of the greatest boxers in history – Muhammad Ali – who was born on that day in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942.

Ali, who was dubbed ‘the Greatest’, won the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions and successfully defended his title 19 times. He posted an impressive record of 56 wins against five losses, including 37 knockouts, before retiring from the sport in 1981 at the age of 39.

It was a red and white Schwinn bicycle that drove the future champion to the sport of boxing. One day, the 12-year-old Clay rode downtown looking for free ice cream, popcorn and hot dogs, which were given out at the Louisville Home Show, an exhibition for black businesses. When going to make his way back from the show, the boy discovered that his beloved bike had been stolen.Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in the largest city in the State of Kentucky in the American South, the son of painter Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. The young boy didn’t think to take up boxing until a petty theft determined his fate.

The tearful child was directed to a nearby boxing gym to find a policeman to report the theft. The little Clay couldn’t have known at that time that by finding the gym he would also meet his destiny.

Louisville police officer Joe Martin, who ran boxing classes in his spare time at the gym, somehow discovered potential in Clay and invited him to take up boxing under his tutelage. The boy had vowed “whup” the bike thief, but was told he should first learn how to fight before seeking revenge.

“It was like God telling me, boxing was my responsibility,” Ali later said, describing that moment as a turning point in his life.

The young Clay began boxing under his new trainer Martin and after just six weeks had his first amateur bout, winning by a split decision.

By the age of 18, Clay had claimed two national Golden Gloves titles in a row, earned two successive light-heavyweight National Amateur Athletic Union titles and recorded a stand-out 100 victories in 108 bouts.

After graduating from high school, he participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, as a light-heavyweight, where he earned the coveted gold medal. However, Clay first took a little persuading to go to the Games, initially rejecting the idea of travelling to Rome due to his crippling fear of flying.

Eventually, Clay agreed to take the flight, after purchasing a parachute which he kept strapped to himself throughout the entire flight. Clay won all his Olympic fights by the maximum points advantage of 5-0, with the exception of his first fight, a second round stoppage victory.

Clay got the better of Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland in the gold medal match, but his return Stateside was tainted by racial prejudice that was still prominent in his hometown. Upon returning home, a joyous Clay ventured downtown wearing his gold medal for a celebratory meal.

However, after he was allegedly told by the restaurant owner that he wasn’t allowed to eat at the restaurant at because he was “colored,” a saddened Clay bitterly tore off his medal and tossed it into the Ohio River.

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