Muhmmad Ali Clay
...was himself named for the Kentucky abolitionist, Cassius M. Clay). At age 12, he had his bicycle stolen, and he reported the fact to a local policeman (and boxing trainer), Joe Martin. Martin suggested that Clay learn to fight; under his guidance, Clay rapidly advanced through the youth ranks. A low-achiever academically, Clay won six Kentucky Golden Gloves while at high school, and was allowed to graduate, despite his poor grades. Presciently, his principal announced during a staff meeting about the issue that Clay would someday be "this school's claim to fame." Clay later joked about his lacklustre academic record saying, "I said I was the Greatest, not the smartest."
At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Clay won a gold medal as a light heavyweight boxer. After being refused service in a whites-only restaurant, disgusted Clay threw his gold medal into the Ohio River. He then turned professional, under the tutelage of boxing legend Angelo Dundee, and quickly became famous for his unorthodox style, his spectacular results, and his tireless self-promotion (the latter inspired in part by professional wrestler Gorgeous George and singer Little Richard). He made a name for himself as the "Louisville Lip" by composing poems and predicting in which round he would knock out his opponent. He boisterously sang his own praises, with sayings like "I am the greatest" and "I'm young, I'm pretty, I'm fast, and no one can beat me."
Ali has himself explained that he used ostentation as a publicity device. As a youngster, he learned that boasting, with maximum impudence, would bring bigger and bigger crowds to attend his fights, because everyone would so desperately want to see the braggart get beaten or otherwise pummelled.
Professional Career
In Louisville, on October 29, 1960, Cassius Clay won his first professional fight. He won a six-round decision over Tunney...
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