5 facts about Muhammad Ali everyone should know
Five facts about Muhammad Ali everyone should know.
Many individuals may lay claim to the debatable title of “Greatest of all time.” There are several boxers who come to mind when having the conversation. Individuals like Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Floyd Mayweather, and Canelo Alvarez to name a few. But there’s one individual whose stature in the ring and outside of it has yet to be surpassed, and that is Muhammad Ali.
The former heavyweight champion may be one of the most recognizable celebrities to have ever lived. His catchphrases and in-ring performances present a larger-than-life persona that still envelopes the boxing profession today. Some facts about Ali are well-known. Everything from his boxing record to his number of title defenses, and his opposition to the Vietnam War. But there are still other facts about Ali that aren’t as well known. It’s easy to see that Ali was a multi-faceted individual that offered much more to the world than what he gave inside the boxing ring.
Here are five things you might not know about Ali yet, ahead of the Ken Burns four-part documentary Muhammad Ali, which will air on PBS on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 8/7c.
The negotiation to rescue American hostages in Iraq
In November 1990, there was an extremely dangerous situation in which, then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, held several Americans captive in the country. This would be one of the issues that would lead to the first Gulf War a few short months later, but before it reached that point Ali played a part in saving those individuals from captivity.
Ali traveled to Baghdad and met with Hussein to negotiate the release of the captives. During that trip, he met with those Americans that were being held against their will and promised to remain in the country until they were allowed to travel back safely.
Ali was 48-years old at the time and traveling on behalf of American peace groups. He was able to work with Hussein to see the release of 15 individuals that then traveled back with him to the United States.
When looking at the countless accolades that came within Ali’s life, directly playing a part in bringing home these hostages is perhaps his greatest.
Why he received a second Olympic Gold medal
At the young age of 18, Ali won an Olympic gold medal in the sport of boxing at the 1960 Summer Games in Rome. It was the first moment in a career of success that would push Ali into the spotlight. However, there was a deeper story around that gold medal and what occurred years later when he received a second from the IOC.
Ali’s autobiography titled “The Greatest” was released in 1975. Within the book, Ali recounts a story in which he and a friend fought a man from a motorcycle gang that was attempting to take Ali’s medal from him while he was in his hometown of Louisville, KY. After the confrontation, he threw the medal into the Ohio River out of anger.
At the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, GA, Ali was awarded another gold medal to replace the one that was lost in the river. Ali was 54-years old at the time and wasn’t capable of consistent speech due to the advancement of Parkinson’s Disease.
The story has since been questioned, with some pointing to the idea that the medal was simply lost at some point. Either way, Ali was rewarded with a replacement gold medal.
The meaning behind his name Cassius Clay
One of the most important fights that Ali took on was the one to have his name recognized. Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in 1942. By 1965 he would change his name to that of Muhammad Ali, which he is more recognized for. However, there is a significance that should be known about his former name.
Both Ali and his father were named after an important Kentucky Abolitionist, Cassius Clay. Clay was born into a family that owned slaves in Kentucky, but he shunned that lifestyle while he was a student at Yale. Clay’s place in history is not talked about too often, but he played a vital role in the battle to free slaves on a variety of fronts. For example, he established an abolitionist newspaper named True American and funded Berea College, a Christian school in the South that was the first to allow women and Black students to attend.
Clay was very active in the work to free slaves throughout the United States. As a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, he worked closely with President Abraham Lincoln, even serving as the Minister to Russia during the Civil War.
That’s quite a legacy to be captured in a name, but it’s one that Ali held until changing his name later in his career.
Muhammad Ali starred in a Broadway musical
On Dec. 2, 1969, a play titled “Buck White” opened at the George Abbott Theater. The name headlining the play would catch a lot of sports fans by surprise as it was none other than Ali.
Two years prior Ali was stripped of his boxing title and license because of his refusal to join the army to fight in the Vietnam War. While he could not return to fighting, he was still very popular, especially within the Black community.
Ali’s presence was a boost to the play, which saw the cast get featured in multiple articles within outlets such as Jet Magazine and make appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. However, even Ali’s name wasn’t enough to save the production as it closed a mere four days later. The production never reached nationwide appeal and Ali’s acting career didn’t take off. But it’s still a little-known detour that Ali took in his life outside the world of boxing that further built upon his popularity that would help him become one of the most famous athletes ever in sports.
Muhammad Ali’s single wrestling match
Combat sports and professional wrestling are odd cousins, even in today’s sports industry. While names like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk set records with their participation in both spaces, Ali was also one that took part in each area.
In 1976, Ali would take on Antonio Inoki in an exhibition match between a professional wrestler and boxer. The story around the fight is as compelling as professional wrestling attempts to be on a weekly basis, but one of the mitigating factors was the idea that Ali was expecting a worked contest while Inoki was anticipating a real fight between the two.
History books show that Ali and Inoki fought to a draw after 15 rounds, but Ali was in danger for the majority of the fight. Inoki, who was an actual grappler along with his professional wrestling career, continued to attack Ali’s calves and knees whenever he came close – throwing stiff kicks while laying on his back. Imagine a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor sitting to play guard against a Muay Thai competitor in MMA, that’s exactly what occurred here in 1976.
When mixed in with the political craziness of Japanese professional wrestling, it’s amazing that a real contest between Inoki and Ali occurred. But looking back at the damage that could have happened, Ali was lucky to walk out of the ring with the ability to fight on intact.
Next. Top 5 best moments in boxing history. dark