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| | [[Image:Muhammad Ali.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Muhammad Ali Vs. [[Sonny Liston]], 1965]] | | [[Image:Muhammad Ali.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Muhammad Ali Vs. [[Sonny Liston]], 1965]] |
| − | '''Muhammed Ali''' was the adopted name of Cassius Clay. Possibly the most famous [[boxing|boxer]] to ever live, he held the heavyweight title a total of three different times. Through his career Ali had 61 professional fights and went 56-5. Giving up his heavyweight title when he refused to go to fight in [[Vietnam War|the Vietnam war]], Ali lost important years in his prime. Coming back after he was allowed to return to boxing, Ali beat the heavily favored [[George Foreman]] in the heat of Africa. It was Ali's first use of the "Rope-A-Dope" where he covered up and allowed his opponent to tire himself out with useless punching. Ali's most famous line during his fighting days was, "I'll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee." | + | '''Muhammed Ali''' was the adopted name of Cassius Clay. Possibly the most famous [[boxing|boxer]] of all time, he held the heavyweight title a total of three different times. Through his career Ali had 61 professional fights and went 56-5. Giving up his heavyweight title when he refused to go to fight in [[Vietnam War|the Vietnam war]], Ali lost important years in his prime. Coming back after he was allowed to return to boxing, Ali beat the heavily favored [[George Foreman]] in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle," a bout held in 1974 in Kinshasa. It was Ali's first use of the "Rope-A-Dope" strategy, where he covered up and allowed his opponent to tire himself out with useless punching. Ali's most famous line during his fighting days was, "I'll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee." |
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| − | Always undersized for a heavyweight, Ali made good use of his speed and technical boxing skill. His skills started to erode quickly once he reached a certain age and he lost his title to a lightly regarded [[Leon Sphinx]], who went on to become a footnote in history. Ali took the title back in lackluster decision, but retired soon thereafter. He tried to make a comeback against then champion [[Larry Holmes]], but out of shape and past his best fighting years, Ali's corner threw in the towel between rounds in the middle of the fight. | + | Always undersized for a heavyweight, Ali made good use of his speed and technical boxing skills. His skills started to erode quickly once he reached a certain age and he lost his title to a lightly regarded [[Leon Sphinx]], who went on to become a footnote in boxing history. Ali took the title back in a lackluster decision, but retired soon thereafter. He tried to make a comeback against then champion [[Larry Holmes]], but out of shape and past his best fighting years, Ali's corner threw in the towel between rounds in the middle of the fight. |
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| | After his boxing career, Ali was diagnosed with [[Parkinson's disease]]. Whether this was caused by his boxing is currently a subject of debate. | | After his boxing career, Ali was diagnosed with [[Parkinson's disease]]. Whether this was caused by his boxing is currently a subject of debate. |