NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
As an amateur boxer, Ali attracted notice in 1960 by winning the Amateur Athletic Union light heavyweight and Golden Gloves heavyweight championships. He won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. He turned professional soon afterward and became world heavyweight champion by knocking out Sonny Liston in seven rounds on Feb. 25, 1964. Gifted with unusually fast reflexes, excellent hand-leg coordination, and finely honed defensive skills, Ali successfully defended his title nine times from 1965 to 1967 and was universally recognized as champion after outpointing World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Ernie Terrell in 15 rounds on Feb. 6, 1967.
Ali often proclaimed his invincibility in doggerel verse and made the boast "I am the greatest!" his personal slogan. In 1964 he joined the Nation of Islam (Black Muslims) -- adopting a Muslim name -- and in 1967 he refused, on religious grounds, to submit to induction into the armed forces. He was subsequently convicted of violating the Selective Service Act and in consequence barred from the ring and stripped of his title, although the conviction was ultimately reversed by the U. S. Supreme Court in 1971.
Ali had meanwhile resumed boxing in 1970 and had defeated two other title contenders, but on March 8, 1971, he lost a 15 -round decision to the heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier. For nearly three years Ali fought other title contenders, including Jerry Quarry, Floyd Patterson (making a brief comeback attempt), Joe Buyer, and Ken Norton. Finally Ali won a unanimous decision over Frazier on Jan. 28, 1974, that led to his meeting with the new champion, George Foreman, on Oct. 30, 1974. His eighth-round knockout of Foreman regained for Ali the undisputed world heavyweight title.
After defending his title successfully six times, he lost it to Leon Spinks on Feb. 15, 1978, in a split decision. Ali regained the WBA title from Spinks seven months later on a unanimous decision, thus becoming the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship three times. In 1979 Ali announced his retirement, at that point having lost only three decisions in 59 fights. He returned to fight World Boxing Council champion Larry Holmes in 1980 and Trevor Berwick of Canada in 1981 but lost both fights.
In 1984 it was confirmed that Ali was suffering from a series of symptoms variously known as "punch drunk" syndrome, or chronic encephalopathy of boxers; it is characterized by parkinson ian symptoms -- slurred speech, facial immobility, poor balance, and difficulty in walking. In conclusion Muhammad Ali was a great inspiration to the black community and made many paths for future blacks to follow. The country honored Muhammad Alis great accomplishments by selecting him to light the Olympic flame at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Ga.
Free research essays on topics related to: heavyweight, champion, feb, heavyweight champion, ali
Research essay sample on Boxing Career Of Muhammad Ali
