Barney Corkhill's 'A Tribute To...' series moves to boxing. In this series, I'll look at the true greats and legends of various sports.
Today's tribute is to the man who revolutionised boxing. He was, and still is, the most well-known boxer ever, and he is one of the most popular as well. His combination of speed and power made him a fearsome competitor, and his charm, wit, and confidence only added to his legend.
I speak, of course, of the great Muhammad Ali.
On January 17, 1942, Odessa Grady Clay and Cassius Clay Sr. celebrated the birth of Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., who would later become known as Muhammad Ali.
He was brought up in Louisville, Kentucky, and from a young age, it became evident that he was something special. His speed and reactions were such that he often challenged his younger brother, Rudy, to throw rocks at him, all of which he dodged.
In October 1954, Clay had his bike stolen. The 12-year-old found a police officer, Joe Martin, who decided to re-direct Clay's anger at losing his bike, and desire to gain retribution, into the boxing ring.
Martin trained young boxers at a local gym and invited Clay to come along. It wasn't long before Clay was in the ring, and he was immediately found winning ways, beating his first ever opponent, Ronnie O'Keefe, by a split decision.
While Martin was still training Clay, he soon found himself another, more experienced trainer, while still working with Martin. He did this to improve his boxing skills, but also to keep the $4 a fight he was earning from Martin.
In 1956, Cassius Clay Jr. was becoming a very effective light-heavyweight. He won the novice Golden Gloves Championship in that year. In 1959, after more years of climbing up the ranks, Clay won the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champion, and the National AAU light-heavyweight championship.
Clay was becoming a major name in amateur boxing. In 1960, he was confirmed as part of the USA team for the Olympics. Still fighting at light-heavyweight, Clay only just got to Rome.
His fear of flying almost prevented him going to the Olympics, but he was eventually persuaded. He still wasn't 100 percent sure, however, and actually brought a parachute onto the plane with him.
It proved to be well worth it. He won gold in Rome, beating Polish fighter Zbigniew Pietrzkowski in the final. His personality was beginning to get noticed as well. His dominant persona and confidence earned him the nickname "The Mayor of the Olympic Village," despite being 18-years old.
Despite this, however, Clay was refused service in a segregated restaurant back in USA, and so he reportedly threw his Olympic gold medal into the Ohio river.
Not to be deterred by this, Clay soon turned professional and won his first pro bout against police chief Tunney Hunsaker.
Clay was beginning to get noticed, due to his unorthodox fighting style, which relied on quick feet to avoid punches rather than good defence to block them. As he fought a few more bouts, he was beginning to get noticed for his mouth as much as his hands.
He often made up rhymes about his opponents or fights, and sometimes, including in his first ever overseas fight against Henry Cooper, he predicted not only that he was going to knock his opponent out, but said what round he was going to do it. He was rarely wrong.
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