Muhammed Ali would have celebrated his 82nd on January 17th.
Very few athletes can boast the title of undisputed GOAT in their sport. One boxer, however, left no room for debate over who is the best. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., aka Muhammad Ali, is not only the greatest boxer of all time but one of the best athletes in history and one of the most recognizable figures in American culture. Born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky Ali came from humble beginnings. Ali began his boxing career at just 12 years old on the advice of coach Joe E. Martin.
From there he found immediate success, with an amateur record of 100 wins and 5 losses Ali won Olympic gold in 1960 just before making his professional debut. Ali faced the toughest competition in his professional bouts. High-profile opponents include George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston. With an impressive record of 56 wins and 5 losses, he went undefeated for the first decade of his career. Only two athletes hold wins over Ali that were not avenged in rematches, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. Despite a few losses Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight title three separate times, and defended his title 19 times.
Lesser known bouts include three entertaining exhibition bouts that Ali partook in. Two of which here against former NHL and NFL players. One of Ali’s least known but most influential bouts was a 1976 exhibition match against Antonio Inoki. Inoki was a Japanese wrestler and martial artist. Although Ali was not happy with the match and it ultimately ended in an uninteresting draw, it foreshadowed the rise of mixed martial arts. While today major organizations such as the UFC feature mixed-style bouts, Ali was a boxing wrestler nearly 50 years ago!
In addition to his impressive boxing resume, Ali is also remembered as a cultural icon and activist. He was even awarded the Philadelphia Liberty Medal for his lifelong contributions to philanthropy and activism.
Check out five of Ali’s greatest highlights below!
