From punches, knockouts, championships, controversies to prophesy, Mohammad Ali became the world's most adored athlete. In the early 60s, when boxing was mostly controlled by the mobs, Ali appeared in the ring and changed the face of this punching sport. At the age of 18, Ali traveled to Rome to compete in the 1960 Olympics in light and heavy weight divisions. He defeated three-time European champion Zbigniew Pietrzykowski in the finals to earn his gold, which he later threw into the Ohio River, after being refused services in a white's only restaurant. He turned professional in 1964 and clashed with Sony Liston in the World Heavyweight Championship, and defended the title for nine times over the next four years.After winning the gold in Olympics, experts never took him seriously as he was not conventional in style and technique.
Those specialists did not approved his poetry, "I'm fast no one can beat me, I am the greatest." Neither did they endorse his change in faith and name - from Cassius Clay to Mohammad Ali. But, in that contentious poetry of his, he had an answer for all those, "I don't have to be what you want me to be; I'm free to be what I want." He was an odd mixture of coarseness and lovability. His girlfriend once confessed that when she first time kissed him, Mohammad Ali fainted. He was a quick-witted person particularly with press. Once asked about his affiliation with Islam, Ali replied that he will have four wives now. It was his humor, pranksters, and practical jokes which used to threaten his parents. Public also had a hard time accepting him. When he fought with Sony Liston, who was a favorite of the masses for the World Heavyweight Championship, he saw the least support for himself and it worsened when he refused to join the Army to fight against Vietnam. His boxing license was cancelled; his champion's status sacked and this great boxer remained out of ring for three and half years at the peak of his career.
In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor and said that it was inappropriate from the authorities to dismiss his playing license. Ali never took the administrators to court to get back his titles as he felt no need for such things. He was right. He knew the best way to get his status back. He regained his title by knocking down George Foreman in the eighth round of fight at Zaire. Joe Fraizer once said that Ali used to hit him so hard that the punches would have collapsed the building. Perhaps the love of sports made him retire long after he should have, and getting punished gave him, Leon Spinks and Larry Homes a little pleasure in what they were doing.His affection for people became the biggest enemy of his health. The principal job, Ali has at home, is to sign autographs. He has probably signed the most number of autographs than any other athlete has ever done. For this dedication there is a small history – When Sugar Ray Robinson refused to give Ali an autograph, Ali said to himself that he will never repeat the same. Once a fit man, Ali now walks slowly in crowds but continues to sign autographs.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympics showed the age of this great boxer when his trembling hands inaugurated the grand festival. The people who saw him on that day realized how much they missed him and how much he has given to the world of sports.Ali was once asked in a television interview that what would have he done with the life if given a choice? This witty athlete for change wasn't quick to reply. After a pause he said he can't think anything else than boxing. That is what he did all his life. Ali fought for what he thought was right. He punched all the barriers to provide 232 million meals to the world's hungry people. No politician or any international diplomacy could stop him from reaching the people in Afghanistan, North Korea and the embargoed Cuba with essential medical supplies. He visited Iraq to secure the lives of 15 hostages during the first Gulf War.For his humanitarian efforts, Mohammad Ali has been honored the lifetime Achievement Award by the Amnesty International. The United Nation cited him as a messenger of peace. He has been honored by the US with its highest Civilian honor – The Medal of Freedom. He has been an inspiration to the sports where Ali brought grace, skill and beauty with his own unconventional style. For the champions of the humanity, he is a role model. Mohammad Ali is an amalgam of humanity and sportsmanship. He once only wrote for himself, " I am the Greatest ...I said that Even Before I Knew I Was."
