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Muhammad Ali was born under the name of Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.He was born in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up with his parents Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odetta Lee Grady.The family lived in "semi-poverty."
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At the age of 12, Ali had his bicycle stolen.When reporting it to the police, the assisting officer Joe Elsby Martin invited Ali to some local boxing lessons he hosted.Ali took to boxing very quickly and from then on his career began.
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Muhammad Ali graduated from High School at the bottom of his class.He still took lessons from Elsby, but after graduating he began boxing 4 hours a day under Fred Stoner, a local black boxer/trainer.Under Stoner, Ali observed many professional fights and realized flaws.Ali believed that while professional fighters were strong, they were slow.Ali theorized that if he could stay light on his feet and dodge blows, he could win fights.
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Ali tested out his unique style of fighting while going 100-8 in his fights.These early wins paved the way to Ali's success in the future.
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Ali's success continued with his winning six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships, two national Golden Gloves championships, and two national Amateur Athletic Union championships. Picture From: http://apimages.ap.org/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=muhammad%20ali&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=14&kwstyle=and&adte=1267234166&dah=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C
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Ali's early success led him to become nominated to represent the United States in the 1960's Olympics in Rome.Ali won the lightweight gold medal.
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When returning to Louisville to celebrate his olympic gold, Ali was refused service from a restaurant because of his color. It then escalated into a fight with a white motorcycle gang leader who attempted to take Ali's gold medal. Ali then threw the medal into a river out of frustration.
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After winning the WBA championship, Ali announced that he had converted to the religion Islam. Picture from: http://apimages.ap.org/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=muhammad%20ali&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=14&kwstyle=and&adte=1267234166&dah=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C
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Ali defeated Sonnie Liston in 6 rounds in the WBA championship of 1964. Though he was over the world regarded as the World Heavyweight champion of Boxing, the WBA did not recognize him as the champion yet. Picture from: http://apimages.ap.org/secured_user/Download.aspx?st=dl&id=2ac1537933cd4af295f1dd062ea10a1f
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Ali is finally recognized for becoming the World Boxing Association champion in 1967 after beating Ernie Terrell in 15 rounds.
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With the American participation in the vietnam war, Ali was drafted. However, Ali stated that he wouldn't participate due to religious reasons. Soon after, Ali publicly announced "I ain't got no quarrel with those Vietcong, anyway." Ali was stripped of his title, had to pay a $10,000 fee, and was sentenced to 5 years in jail.
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Ali's refusal to participate in the war led to a new reputation. Many people all over the world viewed Ali as a hero, both because he refused to fight and because he was African-American. In fact, Ali even starred in a broadway show, Buck White, while he was banned from fighting. Picture from: http://www.apimages.com/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=muhammad%20ali&showact=results&sort=date&intv=None&sh=10&kwstyle=and&adte=1267233886&dah=-1&pagez=60&cfasstyle=AND&nextdah=60%2C60%2C60%2C60%2C60%2C60%2C60%2C6
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In 1970, the Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction that sentenced him to 5 years of jailtime. However, he was still banned from fighting for 3 1/2 years.
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After regaining the world heavyweight title, Ali began fighting internationally. He defeated Joe Frasier in the Philippines in one of his international victories.
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In defeating the world heavyweight champion George Foreman, Ali regained his title of champion. The fight consisted of Ali's signature insults and ridiculing before knocking out Foreman. Picture From: http://apimages.ap.org/secured_user/Download.aspx?st=dl&id=c4a1a92e4ba84ace808e23d29a242b07
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Ali lit the Summer Olympics torch in Atlanta.
