Muhammad Ali

WALT: Write a biography about an inspirational person.

Muhammad Ali

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (best known as Muhammad Ali) was born at 6:35 pm on January 17th, 1942, in Louisville Kentucky. He had a career of boxing (Heavy-weight and light-weight) and was also a Civil Rights Activist. He is inspirational to me because he basically did all he could and pushed it to the very limit.

At the age of 12, Ali discovered his talent for boxing through an odd, unusual way. He told a police officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted to beat up the thief that stole his bicycle. Martin told Muhammad Ali that he better learn to fight before he starts challenging people. It turned out that not only Martin was a police officer, he also trained young boxers at the local gym. Ali started working with Martin to learn how to box, and soon began his boxing career. At an early age Muhammad Ali asked his little brother to throw rocks at him so that he could practice avoiding them with deft movement of his agile body.  In his first amateur bout in 1954, he won the fight by split decision. Ali went on to win the 1954 Golden Glove Championship for beginners in the light heavyweight class. Three years later, he won the Golden Glove Tournament of Championships and the Amateur Athletic Union’s national title for the light heavyweight division.

Muhammad Ali defended his title name 9 times from 1965-1967, and was then recognized as world heavy weight champion after defeating WBA (World Boxing Association) champ Ernie Terrell in 15 rounds on 6 February 1967. Ali often proclaimed his invincibility and boasted “I am the greatest!” He changed his religion and joined Nation of Islam (Black Muslims) claiming his Muslim name  “Muhammad Ali”. The Vietnam War then interrupted his career. In 1967 he was inducted into the Military but refused, saying his religious beliefs forbid him to fight. Americans praised Ali to risk prison to stand up for his beliefs. Others called him a “traitor” and a ”draft dodger”. The government charged him with violating the Selective Service Act. His titles were taking away from him and he was not allowed to box. He was sentenced 5 years in jail and fined $10,000. Then, in 1970, a judge said that Ali could still box professionally.

I picked Muhammad Ali as my inspirational person because he inspires me to never give up, do all that I can and push it to the very limit. Although he is retired, he is still inspirational no matter what.

By Freijah Hawes.