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January 17, boxing legend Muhammad Ali turned 70. The former heavyweight champion is one
of the most admired and respected athletes in the history of
sports. The legendary boxer now suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which
has taken a toll on his body and mind. The disease has left him mute, slow, shaky, and unable to perform simple acts. Yet, Ali remains a hero to many.
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in 1942 in Kentucky, U.S., Ali changed
his name after joining the Islamic religion. He was
a professional boxer, philanthropist, social activist, and is widely
recognized and idolized by fans all over
the world. Nicknames like “The Greatest”
and “The People’s Champion” have been given to Ali.
 One
of Ali’s past opponents had only positive things to say about
the towering boxing idol. “When
I think of him, I think of the verse from scripture, from Genesis, which said, ‘There
were giants in the land,’” said
former boxing competitor George Foreman.
“In the sixties, we had giants in the land, but most of them are gone.
The Kennedy brothers, they passed away; Martin Luther King…There is
no proof now that there were
giants in the land because they are all dead. Muhammad Ali is proof
that once there were giants in
the land,” he added.
 Ali won
the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer
Olympics. His record stands at 56-5. In 1999,
Ali was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated.
Ali is very well known for his unorthodox fighting style,
which he describes as “float like a butterfly,
sting like a bee.” He brought grace and style to the sport.
From professional fighters to ordinary people, Ali will
forever be an inspiration to us all. |
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