Born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali was originally named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., after his father, who was himself named after the 19th-century abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay. Throughout his childhood, Ali struggled with dyslexia, which caused him to struggle with reading and writing during his school year.

Image: Mikhail Nilov

When Ali was 12 years old, a thief stole his bicycle. According to historians, police officer Joe E. Martin, who was also an amateur boxing coach, found Ali fuming over the theft. Martin suggested that Ali take up boxing in order to better channel his anger. At the time, no one could have imagined that this suggestion would jumpstart the start of the most prolific boxing career in history.

Ali made his amateur debut in 1954. Shortly afterward, he went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, and the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Image: Johann Walter Bantz

Many consider the 1964 fight between Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali to be the first major stepping stone on Ali’s journey to greatness. At the time, 22-year-old Ali was the favorite contender for Sonny Liston’s world heavyweight championship title. The fight was highly publicized and controversial, with the brash and confident Ali openly mocking Liston during press conferences and interviews. Despite the odds being 8:1 in Liston’s favor, Ali won the fight in the seventh round, becoming the new world heavyweight champion.

Image: Attentie Attentie

Ali’s fights were not just limited to the ring. In 1967, he stood his ground and refused to be drafted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and objection to the Vietnam War. Although he was highly criticized for this decision and stripped of his boxing titles, Ali remained steadfast and appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court. In 1971, the Court overturned his conviction.

Image: Aleksandar Popovski

In 1964, the same year he became the world’s heavyweight champion, Ali’s religious beliefs caused him to change his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. The name comes from the words meaning "one who is worthy of praise" (Muhammad) and "most high" (Ali). At the time, heavily criticized by the press who refused to call him by his new name, Ali simply stated, "I am Muhammad Ali, a free name."

Image: Art Rogers, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0

Boxing fans remember 1974 as the year of what is arguably the greatest boxing match in history. Advertised as "The Rumble in the Jungle," a 32-year-old Ali faced the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion, George Foreman. Though Foreman was expected to easily win, with 4-1 odds in his favor, Ali triumphed by knockout in the eighth round. This fight introduced the world to Ali’s iconic "rope-a-dope" tactic, which earned him the victory of what at the time was the world's most-watched live television broadcast.

Image: Прикли, CC BY 4.0

All three fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier are undeniable highlights in boxing history, with their first bout famously known as "The Fight of the Century." However, Ali and Frazier’s third and final fight, advertised as "The Thrilla in Manila," is perhaps the most memorable, ending with Frazier conceding after the 14th round. Interestingly, the fight’s name originated from Ali’s remarkable talent for rhyming, as he declared, "It will be a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila."

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Let’s take a moment to step away from Ali’s outstanding boxing career and focus on one of his often-overlooked talents: his use of words. Ali’s struggles with dyslexia didn’t affect his poetry skills, which he often used to intimidate and attack his opponents. Not only that but his numerous interviews and press conferences gifted us with some truly remarkable quotes. We’ll leave you with one of our personal favorites: "If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it."

Image: Fitzgerald Whitney, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0

In 1984, at just 42 years old, Ali announced to the world that he suffered from Parkinson’s Syndrome. Despite his declining health, his spirit remained unshaken. He became a spokesperson for people afflicted with this disease, appearing before Congress in 2002 alongside actor Michael J. Fox to raise awareness for Parkinson’s. In 2016, Ali passed away at the age of 74, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Image: Nelson Ndongala

We’ll end this article with an image that perfectly captures Ali’s unparalleled tenacity and fighting spirit. During the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were held in Atlanta, Georgia, Ali took on the challenge of carrying the Olympic torch and lighting the Olympic cauldron. At the time, the former boxer was bravely battling Parkinson’s Disease. However, in a showcase of moving resilience, Ali represented his country and proudly carried the Olympic Torch to its destination.

Image: Peter Robbins