How Did Muhammad Ali Change The World

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Over the years of American history, there have been lots of great athletes. But the best ones are the ones, who excel outside of their sport and do great things in the world and influence the people around them. One of those is the great Muhammad Ali. Ali changed the country around him and became famous for a war effort a huge civil rights movement, joining a huge movement that made him decide to change his name. Muhammad Ali was a great person in society because of his bravery to not go to the Vietnam war he also changed boxing forever. He will forever be remembered as one of the most influential people in history.

Muhammad Ali was born with the name Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. …show more content…

In the same year Cassius clay inspired by Malcolm X began to follow the faith of the Nation of Islam, Cassius liked the belief of the Nation of Islam at first which was deprecating blacks from white. At this time the civil rights were at its peak. Cassius changed his name to Cassius X at first, but Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad changed Cassius name to Muhammad Ali which means ‘beloved of Allah’. When Malcolm X died Muhammad Ali was sad and surprised, he said that he made a huge mistake. Turning his back on Malcolm because when X came back from the Mecca and tried to teach his new belief that blacks and white should come together and live in peace like Dr. Martin Luther King was. Ali did not like that idea, Muhammad Ali was also great for the movement because he could speak and get a crowd to listen everybody knew who he was and could be a great spokesman and leader. After that Muhammad fought Sonny Liston again to defend his heavyweight championship. Ali knocked him out very quick Crites said it was a “Phantom punch” because it came so quick and powerful. After that Ali defended his titles 8 more successful times. Ali married Sonja Roi in 1964 but they divorce after one year she refused to adopt the Muslim culture. Ali married his second wife at the age of 17 her name …show more content…

Ali successfully defended his title ten more times. He held the championship until Leon Spinks defeated him in February 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Seven months later Ali regained the heavyweight title by defeating Spinks in New Orleans, Louisiana, becoming the first boxer in history to win the heavyweight championship three times. At the end of his boxing career, he was slowed by a condition related to Parkinson's disease (a disease of the nervous system that results in shaking and weakness of the muscles). Ali's last fight took place in

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