Introducing Muhammad Ali: The GOAT

When you write about the lives and lamented deaths of legends, you should compare them to those of other great legends. It’s a metaphor. For instance, Louis Armstrong is the Shakespeare of jazz, Sachin Tendulkar is Don Bradman of Cricket, Virat Kohli is Sachin Tendulkar of Cricket, Micheal Jordan is the Louis Armstrong of basketball & many more.

So what is the metaphor of Muhammad Ali – The legendary boxer and the greatest of all time? Well! Ali may be remembered as the ‘Cervantes of Boxing’, a figure that both encapsulates & transcends the limits of language. Also, he could be compared to Pablo Picasso who comes closer to expressing the sheer influence and sparkling mutability of his spectacular art. American writer Joyce Carol Oates called him the ‘King Lear Of Boxing’ in her essay, “The Cruelest Sport”. She defined, ‘In his feckless youth, Ali was a dazzling figure that would combine the brashness of Hotspur and the insouciance of Lear’s Fool, who became in these dark, brooding, increasingly willed fights the closest analogue boxing contains to Lear himself.”

Oates says, “Rather, there is no great fight without two great boxers, the title matches to Ali–Frazier I (which Frazier won by a decision) and Ali-Frazier III (which Ali won, just barely, when Frazier virtually collapsed after the 14th round) are boxing’s analogues to King Lear— ordeals of unfathomable human courage & resilience raised to the level of classic tragedy”. Thus, Ali himself remains without metaphor. After all, whom do you compare a fighter to when he has knocked out the Man of Steel himself, something unimaginable in DC Comics like Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. The G.O.A.T was born to Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on 17 January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He is popularly known as the greatest athletes & cultural icons of the 20th century. Ali’s impact was far beyond the boxing ring; he was a symbol of courage, conviction & charisma.

A Boxing Virtuoso

Ali’s Journey to becoming a boxing legend started at the age of 12 when he took up boxing to avenge a thief who stole his bicycle. His potential talent was unleashed and he quickly rose through the ranks of amateur boxing. At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division, at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In 1964, at just 22, Clay (Ali) challenged the reigning heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston, with a desire to be famous in boxing history. Guess what? Clay, who had already been known for his brash & poetic trash talk, famously proclaimed the title, “I am the greatest!”. Yes! He defeated Liston and announced his conversion to Islam and thus, ‘Muhammad Ali’ was born.

“The crowd didn’t dream when they laid out their money; they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny,” says Ali (before the 1964 fight with Liston).

Two Greatest Face-Offs

Foreman vs Ali

Although, Muhammad Ali’s career was marked by remarkable fights; however, two of his fights stood above the rest. In 1974, he faced George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, in a bout known as the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Despite being the underdog, Ali composed a strategy known as ‘rope-a-dope’ and he knocked out George Foreman in the 8th round to regain the heavyweight title.

Ali vs Frazer

Later, Ali won against Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila.” It was a 14-round match, and it is often considered one of the greatest boxing matches in history. Ali emerged victorious, cementing his legacy as the greatest fighter of all time who would either ‘float like a butterfly’ or ‘sting like a bee’.

Social Activist & Civil Rights

Social Activity By Ali

Ali’s impact was not confined to just the boxing ring; he was a vocal advocate for civil rights & social justice. He played a crucial role in being the voice of poor people during the Vietnam War due to his religious beliefs & opposition to the war. He famously stated, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.” It cost him his boxing titles and even led to a three-and-a-half-year exile from the sport. When his case reached to Supreme Court, it was ruled in his favor, allowing him to return to boxing. Ali’s resilience and willingness to sacrifice his career for his convictions made him a symbol of the broader civil rights movement.

Boxer Ali’s Legacy

Atlanta Olympics

Muhammad Ali’s legacy is unbeatable. He was a 3-times heavyweight champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and the first fighter to win the heavyweight title 3 times. His charisma, entertaining personality, and quick wits made him a globally recognized superstar. In 1996, Ali had the honor of lighting the Olympic flame at the Atlanta Olympics, a memorable moment of his life that won the hearts of people across the globe.

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At the age of 74, Ali breathed his last, on 3 June 2016. But Ali’s influence continues to inspire athletes, activists, and people who admire his courage, confidence, and unparalleled boxing skills.

Muhammad Ali is remembered as the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ in the world of sports and as a cultural icon whose impact was far beyond the boxing rings.

So, how about adding Muhammad Ali’s official signed jersey to your collection? Isn’t it a top-of-the-world moment? Giftex is coming up with an e-auction from 11-12 Oct that will present this unique memorabilia for all boxing lovers in the world.

36 hours of live auction. Don’t miss this chance. Hurry! Register to bid today.

For more details:

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