Muhammad Ali - by Moses (a.k.a Stacey Marc Goldman)

      It is a trying time as we remember the exploits of the late great Muhammad Ali.

  Ali wasn't just the greatest Boxer of all-time, he was an inspiration to Americans, African Americans, and to Muslims all over the World.  From the time he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali he became a figure head of the American Muslim movement and was felt in an adoring way all across America in a time when Civil Rights Movements needed the clout to break down the barriers set forth by the deep Southern States across America that refused to adhere to desegregation.
  In 1960, at the age of 18, Ali, known by his Christian name Cassius Clay won the Boxing Light-Heavyweight Gold Medal for the U.S.A.  A super talent, Ali soon went on to a Professional career and he took hold of the Heavyweight belt defeating Sonny Liston (as a huge underdog no less) in becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1964.  Soon after winning the belt Ali converted to the faith of Islam going by the name Cassius X Clay and finally was re-named Muhammad Ali, claiming that Clay was his 'slave' name.
  In 1966 Ali refused to serve the U.S Military for the Vietnam draft citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the American involvement in the War, reasoning 'No Vietcong never called me a Nigger'.  He was arrested, and was found guilty of draft evasion charges, and was stripped of his Heavyweight Belts in both the WBC and the WBA.  Ali appealed this decision in the U.S Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971.  Losing four years in the prime of his career would have defeated a lesser competitor.  Ali was not of that fabric and through dedication rose back to the highest level in what was known as 'The Fight of the Century' against a soon to be well known rivalry with 'Smokin' Joe Frazier.  In a twelve round fight Ali lost in a close decision in a battle of two undefeated Boxers.  Ali won the rematch against Frazier in early 1974 and then went on to win his second Heavyweight Championship Belt in late 1974 in 'The Rumble in the Jungle' against legendary George Foreman, the biggest man in the fight game of that time, knocking out Foreman in the Eighth Round.  In that fight Muhammad Ali toyed with Foreman, taking on Foreman's' hardest shots as a ploy to tire him out.  Once the Eighth Round came, Foreman had nothing left in the tank and Ali was successful in strategy (something that is often lost in following a Boxers' career).
  Muhammad Ali then agreed to a third fight against 'Smokin' Joe in the 'Thrilla in Manilla' in 1975 and won in a 15 Round TKO when Frazier's' corner refused to send him out for the Fifteenth Round.
  After some title bouts and exhibition matches against Professional Wrestlers and Mixed Martial Arts fighters, Ali eventually lost the belt a second time (this time in defeat and not by circumstance) against Leon Spinks in 1977.  Ali won the Belt back in a re-match with Spinks in 1978 making him the only man to have ever won the Heavyweight Belt three times over the course of his career.
  Had Ali retired at this point in his glory, some have speculated that he may have sidestepped neurological damage leading to his Parkinson's which was diagnosed a few years after he retired from Boxing.  As was, Ali went on to two more fights losing both Matches.  The first fight punished him greatly as he took on the young, in his prime, Larry Holmes who won and took over the Belt for a good amount of time.  Muhammad Ali's last fight was against Canadian Trevor Berbick and father time just took over.
  Muhammad Ali finished his Amateur Career 100-5 and Ali finished his Professional Career 56-5 with 37 Knockouts.  It's not the fact that Ali held the Belt at three different times that made him the best Boxer of all-time.  It's the fact that Ali fought in the 60's and 70's when there were the most dangerous and 'Great' Heavyweights around, and in analyzing why Ali would be considered  the greatest Boxer of all-time is the fact that he never ducked anyone throughout his tumultuous career.  Ali fought Sonny Liston twice, Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo twice, Joe Frazier three times, George Foreman, Ken Norton three times, Leon Spinks twice, and Larry Holmes.
  Truly a man for the ages, inside and outside the ring what made Muhammad Ali so special was his enigmatic personality, boastful playfulness, and his flair for excitement in expressing himself in the Media.  His relationship with Howard Cosell was legendary in its' own right, and the way Ali spoke was truly poetic.  'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, I'm going to be dropping him in three' was just one of many limericks that Ali devised.

  Muhammad Ali will be remembered by the masses for all eternity.  R.I.P in Louisville, Kentucky and all over the World.