Knowing Muhammad Ali

When I first got involved in the boxing world, I always heard stories about how Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest fighters of all time. I never seen any of his fights live, he retired the year I was born. He’s the one boxer that everyone talks to this day.

But who is Muhammad Ali? Ali was more than just a fighter, he was a philanthropist, social activist and was considered a cultural icon. Like many boxers today, he had a rough childhood growing up. Ali experienced racial discrimination which likely contributed to his early passion for boxing.

His dad didn’t eat his dog like in Manny Pacquiao’s case but his bike was stolen and Ali told a police officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted to beat up the thief. “Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging people,” Martin reportedly told him at the time. In addition to being a police officer, Martin also trained young boxers at a local gym.

Ali started working with Martin to learned how to box and soon began his boxing career.

Ali was a tall, 6 feet 3 inches, unorthodox and imposing figure in the ring. He was known for his footwork, possessing a powerful jabs and just like Sergio Martinez, his style was to carry his hands low and rely on speed to avoid punches. He fought some of the greatest fighters of all time. He suffered his first professional loss on the hands of Joe Frazier in May 8, 1971 and in 1973, Ali suffered another loss at the hands of Ken Norton who broke Ali’s jaw during the fight.

Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984, a disease that is common to head trauma. You got to remember back in the day it was 15 rounds of just punishment and leather gloves.

His work both inside and outside the ring truly makes Muhammad Ali “The Greatest of All Time.” He helped people in need, Muhammad has made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea, delivered sorely-needed medical supplies to an embargoed Cuba, traveled to Iraq and secured the release of 15 United States hostages during the first Gulf War and journeyed to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison.

Despite recent rumors that Muhammad Ali, 71-years-old, was near death, earlier this month and despite the progression of his disease, Ali remains active in public life.

Thought I never met Ali, I feel like I know him based on all the good stuff people have to say about him. He’s still the most recognizable man on earth. Over forty years after he burst onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world.