I was already a very young boxing fan when Muhammad Ali, then still known as Cassius Clay barged into collective consciousness not only as a very proficient fighter but also as a catharsis for a sport fast losing it popularity due to the retirement/decline of the past charismatic champions as Rocky Marciano Archie Moore, Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler,and Sugar Ray Robinson and the rise of exciting but comparatively ordinary champions as Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Emile Griffith, Joe Brown, Sugar Ramos,Eder Jofre and Pone Kingpetch. What more, boxing was still reeling from the impact of the scandal involving the mob that includes accusations and actual proven cases of fighters taking a dive, game fixing and other shenanigans.
iT was against this backdrop and the crying urgent need for a new boxing hero that Clay/Ali bursted into the scene. There's one former Olympic boxing gold medalist who was so colorful, talkative, articulate and so artistic predicting what round his opponents will fall and he did as he predicted. "I am saying it now as I said it before, Archie Moore will fall in four", he decklared in a pre fight interview and fall in four, Moore did. In a heavyweight division so dour with the mob-associated Liston bholding sway, Clay/ Ali created stir and excitement by virtually badgering Liston in every opportunity to give him a crack at the title. An irate, exasperated Liston finally gave in and that strated the long Clay/Ali saga as the so-called Louiville Lip stopped Liston whom he called a big, ugly bear to win the heavyweight championship.
Clay/Ali also used the podium of boxing to launch his personal crusade and advocacy for racial equality not only in the USA but in other parts of the world then still under colonial shackles or reeling from the vestige of imperialism, and for the end of war and peace in Indo China.
He internationalize and popularize boxing and made it as an instrument of peace and goodwill by holding his fights in Africa and Asia and visiting and holding exhibition matches even in communist China and the USSR
He did much, much more than great fighters before and even after him to these days. I could go on but for the limited space and time.
When Ali was 12, someone stole his bike. When the cops came, he told the cop he wanted to beat up the thief, which led to the officer to say, "Well son, you need to know how to fight before you go and start challenging other people. By the way, I train kids to become boxers, here's my address... come down sometime." The next day Ali came to the gym... determined and fierce. The cop saw talent in him and eventually, the thief was caught and an organized match was organized by the officer to settle the beef... Ali won by a landslide. After this fight, Ali realized himself how good he was and took lessons and eventually many fights in ametuer to going pro and one of the best boxers of all time!!!
The great, Mohammed Ali brought the majestic art of boxing to life with his fantastic technique and charisma. He trained under his mother, which not only helped him become the greatest boxer of all time, but also allowed him to develop a special bond with the woman of his life, his mom.
Ali didn't bring the sport of boxing alive.
Boxing was a major sport when Cassius Clay came along. Everybody paid attention to it. He just came along at the right time and brought more spotlight to the sport. It was time when there was only one champ in each weight class, and the heavyweight champion was universally known, a true World Champion.
Heavyweights were the dominant class at the time in the U.S. when Ali was a boxer. He was just really entertaining to watch. He was a great puncher, with good boxing skills, and he was really flamboyant
with his flamboyant nature, his prediction of rounds and his unorthodox style, along with his mouth lol, boxing was big but i think he was the first boxer to become a properly household name, like with people who new nothing abut boxing, even today if u ask someone who has never watched boxing they know of Muhammad Ali, it might have been good timing too the television had taken of by then so it was easy to see his fights on TV
he used the Louieville Lip
His personality and fighting style
I here some people say that Ali brought the sport of boxing to life. How is this so?
