Muhammad Ali's Ultimate Fight is Over
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali
Today, the world learned that one of its brightest lights has gone out. Muhammad Ali, (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.), champion, legend, influencer passed away last night at a hospital in Phoenix, AZ.
Ali has inspired so many around the world. He was one of the most recognized people on earth.
A gold medal Olympian, Ali's reputation grew when he defeated heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in 1964 and went on to defeat Joe Frazier twice and regaining heavyweight champion status for the second time beating George Foreman (in the "Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.) In 1978, he captured the heavyweight title for the third time by triumphing over Leon Spinx in New Orleans.
Ali's boxing career was halted for four years after he refused military service to fight in Vietnam when he was drafted. He had converted to the Islamic religion four years earlier, changing his name to Muhammad Ali. For religious beliefs, he refused to kill another human being. His heavyweight title was taken away. He was arrested for draft evasion. Yet, he stuck to his convictions. He was exonerated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971. After that decision, Ali regained the heavyweight title twice more in the '70's. In the process, he gained the respect and admiration of the public.
Muhammad Ali 1942-2016
Ali's personality was larger than life. Known for his quick wit and unabashed boasting, he was someone who attracted and amused a tremendous following. He called himself "the Greatest of All Time," and was able to live up to his words. He described his fighting style memorably by saying he would, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."
Ironically, the fighter became known for his pacifism and his philanthropy. In 2005, President George Bush awarded him the high honor of the Medal of Freedom.
In 1984, Ali announced that he was afflicted with Parkinson's disease, perhaps his greatest opponent. He persisted, despite the ravages that this illness made upon his body. In the 1996 Olympics, Ali held the world's heart in his hands when he shakily held the Olympic torch up high and lit the Olympic cauldron which commenced the Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Muhammad Ali was married four times and had seven daughters and two sons.
In 2005, the Muhammad Ali Center opened in Louisville, KY, where Ali was born. The Center displays Ali's boxing memorabilia, as well as focusing on the themes of social responsibility, respect and personal growth.
Personal Note:
I saw Muhammad Ali for the first time in New Orleans in 1978, the week that he regained his heavyweight title for the third time. After a chance encounter with the owner of his training camp, I was asked if I’d like to go to a sparring session. Of course, I did.
I joined Mrs. Clay, Ali’s mother, and his aunt in a car that took us to a place which I presumed would be a gym. To my surprise, when we entered the building, we ended up on a stage in an auditorium. A boxing ring was set up on stage and an audience had gathered. I took out my camera and got ready for the bout. I stood by the corner of the ring. When the bell rang between rounds and Ali came to the corner where I stood, I made some of my favorite images of all time. Unfortunately, I was only able to make photos with just one roll of film. The tape from my hand-rolled film got stuck on the spool, and I could not rewind the film. I knew that I had something historic on that film, so I did not try to open the back of my camera to adjust the tape. That could have ruined what was on the film. I was very unhappy to have to stop photographing, but my instincts were right. Some of the photos that I took that day appear on this page.