Muhammad Ali was a renowned American professional boxer who excelled in his sport and later used his status to herald changes. His original name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. and he was named after a slavery abolitionist. Here are a few interesting piece of trivia from the life of this famous boxer.
The story of how Muhammad Ali trod on the path of becoming a boxer is quite intriguing. Ali had parked his red-and-white Schwinn bike outside an auditorium when it was stolen. Upon realizing the truth, Ali was enraged and he reported the matter to a police official. He said he wanted to 'whup' the thief. The cop Joe Martin was also a boxing trainer and he realized the potential in Ali and decided to train him. Rest as we know is history.
The boxer would ask his friends and family to throw stones at him which he would use as means to increase his agility and speed by dodging them. The boxer's brother recollects, “No matter how many I threw, I could never hit him.”
Muhammad Ali rose to the status of one of the most influential Muslims across the globe. He used his stature to negotiate with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein who had held 2,000 foreigners as captive. Upon Ali's insistence Hussein agreed to free 15 American hostages.
In the section below you can read some of the best inspirational quotes by the famous boxer Muhammad Ali.
Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.
Muhammad Ali
Don't count the days, make the days count.
Muhammad Ali
I'm a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I'm no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who won't hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat.
Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.
I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get
used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours;
my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.
I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.
Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer
Muhammad Ali
All through my life, I have been tested. My will has been tested, my courage has been tested, my strength has been tested. Now my patience and endurance are being tested.
