Sports journalism likes to get hyperbolic in order to sell a story, so plenty of athletes have at one point or another been called arguably the best ever to enter their field. However, in sports and popular culture in general, only one man has the moniker as simply being The Greatest. It takes a huge ego to call yourself that and an even greater talent to repeatedly prove your reputation as such, but Muhammad Ali was more than capable of delivering in both fields.
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Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, and endless tributes have followed, all of which made sure to mention Ali was more than just a fighter or an entertainer; Ali was The Greatest Of All Time in both arenas.
Ali was born Cassius Clay in January of 1942, but it was the name Muhammad Ali that turned him into an international superstar in the early 1960’s. Ali didn’t win every single fight, nor did he win the most fights per capita—in fact, for several years in the midst of his prime, he was all but banned from the boxing world due to his efforts at protesting the United States government and advancing the Civil Rights movement.
Once Ali was allowed back in the boxing ring in the 70’s he became an even bigger worldwide sensation, proving he was The Greatest all over again, and showing his age wasn’t slowing him down in any way. Ali stepped out of the ring in 1980 when his health started deteriorating, and he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. Nonetheless, Ali’s reputation as a showman and sportsman only strengthened in hindsight. In retrospection of his death, join us on our journey through 15 facts that prove Ali was the Greatest of All Time.
15. He Won Golden Gloves As A Teenager
Still competing under his birth name Cassius Clay, Ali was already a boxing sensation as a teenager. Clay began boxing in 1954 when he was only 12 years old, and his reputation as an unbeatable fighter started to grow almost instantly. Clay allegedly stepped into the ring after having his bicycle stolen. The story goes he reported the crime to the police, with the promise once they found the culprit he’d give them a serious beating. The police told Clay he should make sure he knows how to do that if he was going to make threats like that, and training as a boxer started shortly thereafter. Clay’s amateur record was an astounding 100 wins and 5 losses, and saw him win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, and the Amateur Athletic Union’s national title. Cassius Clay’s impressive amateur credentials were put on display when he turned 18, and went to the ultimate showground for amateur athletes…
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