yr13_ia_2007_bsmith1_b

=Summary of Evidence (500-600 words)=

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay in 1942. He started boxing at the age of twelve and won 6 Kentucky Golden Gloves championships, two National Golden Gloves championships and two National AAU titles before he was 18. In 1960 he won the Gold Medal at the Olympics in Rome.

Ali was notable in using his sporting profile to raise awareness of political issues in which he was interested. For example, in the early 1960s Clay came into contact with Malcom X, a spokesman for the Nation of Islam (NOI), near his fight with the heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston. The two bonded deeply and Clay was inducted into the Nation of Islam. Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston and claimed his first Heavyweight championship in 1964. Clay declared that he was a member of the Nation of Islam the next day and his name was changed to Cassius X. The X represented his unknown former name that was taken by his slave owners before. Cassius X was then given the name Muhammad Ali by the NOI founder the Honorable Elijah Muhammad who was known as “The Messenger”.

Following this, the turning point in Ali’s career was when the military drafted him for duty for the Vietnam War. Ali refused due to his religious beliefs. His most famous quote was “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong”. His championship, passport and boxing licenses were soon after all taken. Ali lost his court battle and faced a prison sentence of 5 years. Ali then gave lectures at college campuses, being the first national figure to publicly be against the war. 2 years later, with the war not fairing well and the national attitude to Vietnam changing, Ali fought against Joe Frazier. The match was called “The Fight of the Century” Ali lost this match. Despite his lose, he emerged with a victory when the Supreme Court overturned his conviction. He was able to fight anywhere in the world again.

Ali then turned to the issue of Africa. His next famous bout was “The Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman, the heavyweight champion at that time. This was held in Zaire, Africa. Ali had a special bond with the African people, that was unheard of at the time. Ali won this match on the 8th round, thus regaining his title as heavyweight champion of the world, for the second time. Ali was pitted against Joe Fraizer again at the match “Thrilla in Manilla,” which can be argued the greatest boxing match ever. Ali emerged victorious once again, although losing his title to Leon Spinks, the Olympic Champion. Ali again regained his title from Spinks becoming the first man to ever win the championship three times. His career ended with 56 wins, 37 of those by knockouts and 5 losses.

This was a man who was a sporting legend, involved in the community, politics and controversial affairs, such as being a member of the NOI and not fighting in the Vietnam War. He was a Civil Rights activist and a man who gave back to those around him. Ali is still a role model and still one of the most recognizable men on the planet.