Age:
High School
Reading Level: 5.8
1. Ali: 1942 to 2016
Muhammad Ali was born and raised in Lousiville, Kentucky.
He was famous for being the best fighter in the world in a sport called boxing. At 18 years old, he won a gold medal in boxing at the 1960 Olympics.
Ali also became the Heavyweight Champion of the World three times. First, in 1964 against Sonny Liston. Second, in 1974 against George Foreman. Third, in 1978 against Leon Spinks.
Ali boxed professionally for 21 years. He won 56 matches and only lost five fights.
Muhammad Ali was also famous for defending his beliefs. For example, he refused to fight in the Vietnam War. This choice caused him to lose his championship title. Despite facing critics, Ali fought for his beliefs and religion throughout his lifetime.
2. The Red Bicycle
Muhammad Ali began boxing because of a red bicycle. At age 12, he had his new red bicycle stolen. Ali felt angry and wanted to fight the thief.
A police officer told him that he should learn how to fight first. That officer, Joe Martin, happened to run a boxing gym and taught Ali how to fight.
"I trained six days a week and never drank or smoked a cigarette . . . Boxing kept me out of trouble."
3. What's in a Name?
Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay. He was named after a man whose family had owned Ali's family members as slaves.
"Cassius Marcellus Clay. He was a Kentucky white man who owned my great-grandaddy and was named by great-granddaddy after him. And then my granddaddy got named, and then my daddy, and now it's me."
Cassius Clay changed his name when he joined the Nation of Islam as a young man. This American Muslim organization differed from traditional Islam. Its leader, Elijah Muhammad, gave Clay the name Muhammad Ali, meaning "worthy of all praise most high."
"Changing my name was one of the most important things that happened to me . . . It freed me from the identity given to my family by slave masters."
Ali's family and fans felt shocked and surprised by his change to Islam. He had been raised as a Christian.
"I was baptized when I was twelve, but I didn't know what I was doing. I'm not Christian anymore. I know where I'm going, and I know the truth . . . I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want."
