MUHAMMAD ALI'S LIFE STORY
He was born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942. The legendary boxer won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics when he was 18, and he went on to become the world heavyweight champion three times. He is considered one of the greatest heavyweights in the sport’s history and was crowned Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC in December 1999.
Handsome, charismatic and brashly confident, with catchphrases such as ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’ and ‘I am the greatest’, Muhammad is as famous for his beliefs as for his boxing. He converted to Islam, changed his name and in 1967 refused to fight in the Vietnam war on religious grounds; he was arrested, found guilty of refusing induction and stripped of his heavyweight title.
Exiled from the sport for nearly four years, he appealed and the Supreme Court reversed the conviction in 1971. Returning to the ring, he had more wins in the 70s, with the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fight against George Foreman and the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ against Joe Frazier. In 1978 he won the heavyweight title for a record third time, with his victory over Leon Spinks. Muhammad’s last fight was in 1981 – he lost to Trevor Berbick – by which time he was showing symptoms of Parkinson’s, although he was not diagnosed for another three years.
Now suffering advanced Parkinson’s and living in Arizona with his fourth wife Lonnie, Muhammad has full-time care. His speech is extremely restricted but he can talk in a low voice. His daughter Hana – he has seven and two sons – says he still goes out using a wheelchair but can walk with assistance, and has retained his sense of humour. A committed humanitarian, he has continued his charity work for The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Arizona, Unicef and many other causes.
Despite his fame, little is known about his life outside the ring. Now I Am Ali, a documentary from British director Clare Lewins, is set to change this, delivering moving insights into Muhammad as a father and husband. At the centre of the film are fascinating tape recordings of conversations he had with his children during the 70s, which have never been heard before, as well as home movies and archive footage. For a man who had a powerful and expressive voice that has almost been silenced, these audio snippets are all the more poignant.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2822391/My-father-Muhammad-Ali-insight-boxing-legend-s-life-outside-ring-daughter-Maryum.html#ixzz3IbQyUbrB
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