Muhammad Ali’s top 10 iconic moments that made him the greatest boxer of all time

Today is the 83rd birthday of Muhammad Ali – a man who many consider to be ‘The Greatest Boxer of All Time’ and who transcended the sport to become an inspiration to millions

On this day 83 years ago, a legend was born. And Muhammad Ali spent the next few decades of his life becoming one of the greatest boxers to ever pick up the gloves.

Ali’s expected 83rd birthday comes just months after the 50th anniversary of him shocking the world to knock out George Foreman in Africa and regain the world heavyweight title. Rumble in the Jungle took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). It remains one of boxing’s most significant and talked about fights – and one of the sport’s biggest events of all time.

The champion’s life was studded with moments of infamy, but here are 10 of the most ionic moments in the life of Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali.

1. From Humble Beginnings (1954)

Ali’s journey to boxing started back in 1954 after a then 12-year-old then named Cassius Clay’s bicycle was stolen. Furious after his bike was stolen, the boy found a police officer named Joe Martin who ran the Columbia boxing gym and recommended that the boy join it. Martin recalled: “He kept talking about how he was going to ‘whip’ whoever it was that stole his bike, I told him before he started talking about punching someone he’d better learn to fight. “

In Ali’s autobiography he said: “I ran downstairs crying, but the sights and sounds and smells of the boxing excited me so much that I almost forgot my bicycle.”

2. “My son will be a future world champion!” (1954)

The new boxer was not a natural for the sport of boxing. Martin, his trainer, noted at the time: “he didn’t know a left hook from a kick in the ass.”

However, Clay found success in his first fight when he took home a split decision on Martian’s televised show broadcast across Kentucky – after the win, Clay’s father proclaimed, “My son is going to be another Joe Louis!”

“The Heavyweight Champion of the World, Cassius Clay.”

3. Ali becomes Olympic champion

Due to a fear of flying, Clay almost refused to travel to the Olympics. In the 1960 Olympic final, he beat 1956 bronze medalist Zbigniew Pietrzykowski to bring back the gold medal to beat the United States by unanimous decision.

The new talent quickly began predicting the rounds his fight would end. These Olympic champions’ predictions paid off and drew in crowds and were a great promotion for the fighter – there was a run where the champion guessed seven out of eight fights correctly.

3. Ali be comes heavyweight champion of the world (1962)

At the age of 22, Ali had shot his way to the world championship against one of the most feared boxers of all time, Sonny Liston.

At the weigh-in, Ali’s heart rate was twice that of the average person. Ali claimed to his doctor, “Liston’s not afraid of anybody, but he’s afraid of a nut because he doesn’t know what to do.”

Ali later admitted in a 1975 interview that of all the men he fought, Sonny Liston was the most intimidating boxer he had fought in his career.

In the 1964 fight, Ali shocked the world and in the sixth round he incapacitated Liston from continuing the fight – “The Greatest” crowned himself the heavyweight champion of the world.

4. Cassius Clay, no more. Muhammadmad ali is born (1964)

In 1964, after going by the name Cassius X for a period, Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali after joining the Nation of Islam. The name was given to the boxer by the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad.

5. Ali Knocks Out Sonny Liston Rematch (1966)

In 1965, Ali and Liston met in the ring again. This time Ali put the man down in the second round of the fight.

People debate what sent Liston, the 97 kg mob boss, to the canvas; some believe Liston took a dive, while others claim Ali hit the man with a super-fast “phantom wrap.”

Regardless of the speculation, the match produced one of the most iconic images of all time.

6. Banned from boxing and goes to prison (1967-68)

In 1967, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title after refusing to join the US Army.

The champion was convicted of draft evasion, fined $10,000 and banned from boxing for three years. While Ali spent no time in jail and was able to remain free on bail. But the fights robbed him of years of boxing at a time when he was at the peak of his career.

7. ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ (1971)

In 1971, Ali met the then heavyweight ring champion George Foreman, nicknamed “Big George”.

The heavyweight bout was fought in Africa in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and was titled: “The Rumble in the Jungle.”

In a 1975 interview, Ali admitted that despite Joe Fraiser being the “roughest and toughest” man he had met, George Foreman was the most powerful.

After knocking Foreman down in the last 20 seconds of the eighth round, Ali once again claimed the heavyweight title – David Frost proclaimed on commentary for the fight:

“The great man has done it! This is the most joyous scene in the history of boxing.”

8. Ali Becomes Three-Time Heavyweight Champion (1978)

In 1978, after losing the Heavyweight title to seven-fight newcomer Leon Spinks, Ali won the belt back in a rematch a few months later.

The champion had become the first man ever to hold the heavyweight title three times in their career.

After the fight, Ali vowed to retire, adding: “I suffered and sacrificed more than I ever did. There is nothing left for me to gain by fighting.”

10. Becoming a legend

On June 3, 2016, one of the greatest sports figures to ever live, Muhmmad Ali died at the age of 74.

Former heavyweight champion George Foreman, who lost the title to Ali, called the man “one of the greatest people he had ever met.”

Ali retired in 1981 and won 56 of his 61 fights, 37 by knockout. Serving as an inspiration to people everywhere, Ali continued to inspire the next generation, rising to a level of infamy that transcended the sport of boxing.

On a talk show with Ali, the youngest heavyweight champion ever alive, Mike Tyson, was asked who would win a fight between the two of them, Tyson replied:

“In this situation, every head must bow, every tongue must confess, this is the greatest ever.”