Muhammad Ali Clay an American Former Heavyweight Champion - Essay Example

Muhammad Ali Clay (Cassius Marcellus)1942 to 1981 Muhammad Ali Clay (Cassius Marcellus)1942 to 1981 Muhammad Ali is one ofthe American former heavyweight champions who have made lots of histories in the World Boxing. He has been a boxer for a good proportion of his life career. It is of crucial significance to note that Mohammad Ali was born in the year 1942. During his birth, his real name was Cassius Marcellus Clay. This character displayed outstanding skills in the ring, thereby outsmarting most of his opponents. In this regard, it is of crucial significance to note that Muhammad Ali is respected and most recognised sports person in America. In his life profile, it is important to note that Muhammad Ali started his boxing training at very tender age. For instance, he started training when he was only 12 years old. However, irrespective of the tender age of training, the super man acquired several skills, expertise as well as experience. This pushed him towards the realization of his first global success at the age of 221. For instance, it was at the age of 22 when Muhammad Ali first won the World heavyweight championship. This happened in the year 1964. The victory really motivated Muhammad Ali. As such, he vowed to put even more effort in order to succeed at each and every boxing event. It is of crucial significance to underscore the fact that Muhammad Ali was born a Christian. However, as he continued to grow, he later on converted to Islam. This happened in the year 1975 when he was 33 years old. Born in Louisville, Kentucky in the United States of America, Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Marcellus Clay played a total of 61 fights. Amongst these fight matches, he won 56 and lost 5. Amongst his victories, his total wins by knock outs included 37 in number. This paper is going to focus on Muhammad Ali relevant to his religious perspectives as well as the issue of women. Moreover, the paper is going to focus on the views of Muhammad Ali relevant to wars as well as maintenance of peace amongst individuals in the society. Furthermore, the paper is going to focus on Muhammad Ali’s take on the issue of racism as well as equality of all the people regardless of differences in races, religion as well as ethnic backgrounds. The Perceptions of Muhammad Ali on the issue of Racism in the United States of America It is of crucial significance to note that Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Clay was really opposed to the issue of racism in the United States of America. Muhammad Ali is someone who deeply the valued the issue of equality amongst all humanities. However, it is of crucial significance to underscore the fact that the issue of racism greatly undermined as well as compromised the issue of equality amongst all people in the United States of America. This really disturbed Muhammad Ali both psychologically, spiritually as well as physically. It is prudent to note that the issue of racism occasioned several predicaments in them lives of the people of the United States of America. The most affected were those who were falling amongst the black race. These people were oppressed as well as several of their social rights infringed upon by the government of the United States by then2. These were some of the issues that Muhammad Ali perceived as infringing on the lives of the society. As such, he was strongly opposed to the issue of racism in America. Mohammad Ali was one personality who was blessed, as well as created with a very human heart. He had the true feelings of empathy as well as sympathy on people regardless of race, origin as well as culture. He considered all people equal. In this respect, it is important to note that Muhammad Ali always wanted to see that each and every person in the United States is treated equally, both blacks and whites alike. During the time when Muhammad Ali was still playing boxing, it is important to note that the whites really mistreated the blacks. The different forms of oppressions, discrimination as well as other forms of social injustices that the Black race was subjected towards were regarded as the systematic racism in America. It is important to note that Muhammad Ali was strongly opposed to the issue of systematic racism. He termed it a gross misconduct and infringement of social rights of human beings. It is important to note that due to the conditions that the Black Americans were facing in the United States in the nineteenth century gave rise to Muhammud Ali reconsidering his faith and religious beliefs. This follows the problems that were faced by the black people in the United States of America. For instance, the Black Americans were not fully accepted in the United States. Due to this reason, they faced such problems including being blowed up by the white men whenever they were engaged in fighting for their rights. This involved the Black Americans struggling for forced integration as well as full acceptance by the government of the United States. It is important to note that during such struggles, the blacks faced several forms of oppressions as well as sufferings3. A good number of them were being killed, as well as being blowed up whenever they attempted to champion their social rights. This was very crude relevant to the issue of rationality. Such oppressions were baseless in the perception of the great Muhammad Ali. He strongly opposed such issues of racial injustices since they dealt a major blow to the peace of humanity, rationality as well as compromised equality. Some of the Black American were being hit by stones. This was one of the most critical and crude method of punishment that was according to the Black Americans, or the Negros who were championing their constitutional as well as social rights4. Other than being stoned to death by the unknown killers, majority of the bodies of the Black Americans or the Negros were also fed to dogs. This was one of the social injustices that faced the Black Americans as occasioned by the issue of extreme racism. It is important to note that Muhammad Ali being one of the people blessed with humane hearts really opposed these forms of social oppressions. This even made him to convert from Christianity to Islam. The conversion from Christianity to Islam was greatly influenced by the quest of Muhammad Ali to attain peace and evade other forms of discrimination. It is important to note that some of the Blacks were also followed up to their churches and molested there. Others were also killed in their churches because of the reason that they were of the Black race. It is critical to note that the White race was considered more superior in the United States of America. On the same note, the Black race was considered very inferior. As such, the people falling among the Black race could not escape the social vices levied against them by the white race, including oppression as well as inequality. This is the reason that made Muhammad Ali to reconsider his stand on the religious beliefs, thereby making him decide to quit Christianity in order to join the religion of Islam. Based on the issue of championing of the rights of the Black Americans, it is important to note that several movements arose. These movements were mostly engaged in the mass struggle for the rights of the people falling amongst the Black race in America. It is of crucial significance to note that Muhammad Ali really contributed professionally towards the realization of success of such struggles for liberation as well as equality amongst all in the United States of America by then. Other than Muhammad Ali, it is also important to acknowledge the role played by Malcolm X in the support for mass struggle in order to achieve the social justices amongst all the people of America regardless of race as well as other social diversities. It is important to note that the Blacks were racially segregated relevant to the social class as well as the economic class issues. These were strongly objected by Muhammad Ali. He fought towards ensuring that sanity, rationality as well as logic is embraced and practiced in the United States regardless of the race of the individuals. This was very important in extending the fame as well as legacy of Muhammad Ali, who was mostly known for his boxing prowess. In connection to the above, it is of crucial significance to note that Muhammad Ali really fought towards reaching a point of compromise, as well as, the realization of solidarity with the people of the white race in the United States of America5. This move was aimed at bringing peace to the people of America regardless of the differences in races, religion as well as other social variations in the United States of America. Moreover, it is of crucial significance to acknowledge the fact that Muhammad Ali fought the issue of racism in very many ways. For instance, being an internationalist with regards to his profession in boxing as well as the position relevant to the issue of human rights and social justices, he formed a better part of discussion in globally6. For instance, he formed a subject of discussion amongst several human rights groups. This led to the creation of several human rights movements that championed the issue of equality amongst all people regardless of their races as well as ethnic origins. Some of the notable effects were made by Muhammad Ali on the issue of opposition of racism when he converted from Christianity to Islam. In this respect, it is of crucial significance to note that after joining Islam, Muhammad Ali hoped that he could use that position to sway he whit in order to recognize and respect the Blacks in the United States of America by then. It is of critical importance to note that the love that Muhammad Ali had for all the people shows that he really hated the issue of racism. This follows the effects of racism in the society. For instance, during those times, the issue of racism was very critical in making the people languish in abject poverty, in addition, it is important to note that the issue of racism occasioned several predicaments in the society involving inability to access proper medical services7. This made several people of the alienated races to succumb to several diseases. This really contributed towards lowering the number of the Black communities who were alienated and discriminated upon in the United States by then. However, it is critical to note that Muhammad Ali showed his strong objection to this social vice known as racism. This was evident in his speech as he clarified the reason why he converted to Islam from Christianity. In his speech, Muhammad Ali confessed that he had love for all the people. This was regardless of the race, either black or white. He loved the Blacks in the same measure that he did love the whites8. This is a strong reflection that Muhammad Ali was a strong person who strongly opposed the issue of racism. He believed in equality amongst all the people of America. The issue of discrimination is always very belittling to the society. It is of crucial significance to note that several challenges always follow the issue of discrimination. Discrimination of human beings may always take various forms. Some of the aspects of discrimination may always be evident relevant to the ethnic dimensions. In this respect, it is of crucial significance to note that racial discrimination is always associated with several ills in the community as well as to the society in general. Racial discrimination manifested in such forms is always associated to the elements of oppression to the society. The issue of human oppression is always very bad. This follows that oppression is a one of the ways in which the freedom of the society becomes infringed. As a result, the people discriminated against on the racial perspective are always left behind when it comes to holding certain positions in government. In addition, it is of crucial significance to note that the people who face the social vice going with the name of racial discrimination always face the problems in getting employment, educational challenges as well as other social challenges within the society. Racial discrimination is also closely related to the issue of ethnic discrimination. These are some of the social vices that may always bedevil a society relevant to the differences that may exist in terms of their races, skin color as well as ethnic backgrounds9. It is of crucial significance to acknowledge the fact that the issue of racial discrimination has always been so much pronounced in several counties in the world. As such, it is important to note that several governments have always been fighting the issue of racial as well as ethnic discrimination, but to no success. The issue of racial segregation, division as well as discrimination has taken its roots in a number of sectors in several governments10. As such, it is of crucial significance to highlight that the issue of racial discrimination has bedeviled many regions but its effective solution has always not been attained. It is in historical records that the issue of racial discrimination was so much pronounced in the United States of America in the periods of the nineteenth century. Several people were discriminated upon relevant to their cultural differences. In addition, it is important to note that several people in the United States were discriminated upon relevant to their racial differences as well as ethnic differences. This took place in the late nineteenth century. In the United States, the people who were mostly discriminated against included the ones who were of the African descent. In this respect, it is of crucial significance to underscore the fact that the Black race in the United States of America was the most affected with the issue of racial discrimination. This was the whites dominate several sectors of the United States, thereby leaving the fate of the Black Americans to oblivion11. The Black race were affected with several issues involving diseases, hunger as well as other forms of problems but could not get enough governmental intermediation due to the influence of the issue of racial discrimination experienced in American during those time. Muhammad Ali’s Take on the Issue of War The issue of peace was accorded high reverence by the boxing champion, Ali Muhammad. It is because of his love for peace that made the man to convert to Islam. It is important to note that throughout his life, Muhammad Ali has always been doing things that are aimed at proving to the world the importance of peace and harmony. In connection to this, it is important to acknowledge the fact that Muhammad Ali accorded more respect as well as weight to peace, love and unity above anything else including his achievements. This was especially evident when Muhammad Ali was ready to lose his championship titles for the sake of peace between the two Countries that were at war. For instance, in relation to the above, it is important to note that Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted in to the American war in the year 196712. During this time, there were several differences between the United States of America as well as the Vietnam. As a result, the differences precipitated severe wars between these two countries. The American army fought tirelessly for victory. However, being that Muhammad Ali was a professional in the field of boxing, it was within the decision of the United States to induct him into their army to help them fight in the war. However, due to the fact that Muhammad Ali was someone who loved peace, love and harmony, he refused to get inducted into the army. One of the reasons that was cited by Muhammad Ali for the refusal to be inducted into the Army was religion based. He said that his religion would not allow such since it is a religion that always advocates for peace and love at all times. Therefore, taking the proposal, or agreeing to join the army would really compromise his beliefs, as well as act to betray his religion. This was not received well by the United States. As a result, Muhammad Ali was immediately stripped of his championship titles, yet this did not serve to make him give up hope. Muhammad Ali maintained that he was not having any quarrels with the Vietcong. This happened on 28th April of the year1967. However, two months later, on the day of 20th June 1967, the Muhammad Ali got convicted of draft evasion by the courts of the United States of America. Due to this conviction, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. In addition to the above, the worst still happened to Mohammad Ali. He was fined a total of ten thousand dollars13. Moreover, he was banned from boxing by the United States for a period of at least three years. However, it is important to note that the man got an opportunity to stay outside the jail as his case was determined as well as appealed. This saw him return to his boxing career three years later. Even after that long period of stay, he could still emerge victorious in the boxing matches. For instance, he knocked out Jerry Quarry, one of the most renowned American boxers. It is paramount to note that Muhammad Ali managed to knock out Jerry Quarry in the third round. This happened on 26th of October, the year 197014. However, in the year 1971, a vicious fight between Muhammad Ali together with Joe Frazier happened. This was one of the most revered matches, most awaited and was termed the “Fight of the Century”. It was in this match that Muhammad Ali lost for the first time in his professional boxing career. However, it is important to note that the loss came after fifteen rounds on the ring. However, in the month of June of the same year, it is important to note that the Supreme Court of the United States of America overturned Muhammad Ali’s earlier conviction for evading the draft. However, three years later, Ali regained his victory over Joe in the professional boxing math competition that saw Ali emerge winner by decision in 12 rounds of the fight. This match was conducted in Madison Square Garden of the New York City in the United States of America. On the month of October, Muhammad Ali regained his heavyweight championship title. This was after overpowering George Forman in the heavyweight championship termed “Rumble in the Jungle” conducted in Kinshasa City of Zaire. On the day of 15th February of the year 1978, Muhammad Ali again met with Joe Frazer for a fighting match. This match was termed the “Thrilla in Manilla”15. This match took place in the Philippines. The results of this match saw Muhammad Ali emerge victorious in 14 rounds. Seven months later, in the day of 15th September of the same year, Muhammad Ali got engaged in another boxing match between him and the other professional boxer by the name Leon Spinks. In this match, it is important to note that Muhammad Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks. However, it took only seven more months for Muhammad Ali to win back his championship title. However, on the date of 15th June of the year 1979, Muhammad Ali announced that he was retiring from the professional boxing career. However, he later on returned to the ring after one year. In respect to the above, Ali competed tirelessly in the match against fellow professional boxer by the name Larry Holmes16. However, luck was not on the side of Muhammad Ali during this fight. This is because Larry Holmes knocked out Muhammad Ali in the eleventh round I the ring. In addition to this lose, it is important to note that Ali also lost to Trevor Berbick on 11th December of the year 1981. Following these successive losses, Muhammad Ali decided to fully retire from professional boxing. Bibliographies Edmonds, Anthony O. 2006. Muhammad Ali a biography. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Ezra, Michael. 2009. Muhammad Ali: the making of an icon. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Feinstein, Stephen. 2008. Muhammad Ali. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary. Golus, Carrie. 2006. Muhammad Ali. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books. http://www.contentreserve.com/TitleInfo.asp?ID={7761B90A-5428-40BC-A717- C1F051F6E090}&Format=50. Gordon, Randy. 2001. Muhammad Ali. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. Riccella, Christopher. 1991. Muhammad Ali. Los Angeles, Calif: Melrose Square Pub. Co. Gorn, Elliott J. 1995. Muhammad Ali, the peoples champ. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Ezra, Michael. 2009. Muhammad Ali: the making of an icon. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Feinstein, Stephen. 2008. Muhammad Ali. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary. Healy, Nick. 2004. Muhammad Ali. Mankato, MN: Creative Education. Latimer, Clay. 2001. Muhammad Ali. Chanhassen, MN: Childs World. Micklos, John. 2011. Muhammad Ali: "I am the greatest". Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers. Owens, Tom. 2011. Muhammad Ali. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co. Riccella, Christopher. 1991. Muhammad Ali. Los Angeles, Calif: Melrose Square Pub. Co. Schulman, Arlene, and Martha Cosgrove. 2005. Muhammad Ali. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications. Shone, Rob, and Nik Spender. 2007. Muhammad Ali: the life of a boxing hero. New York: Rosen Central. Shwartz, Lary. He is Simply …The Greatest. Retrieved on 8th May 2015 from https://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014063.html Gilmore, Mikal. 2011. How Muhammad Ali Conquered Fear and Changed the World. Retrieved on 8th May 2015 from http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/how-muhammad-ali- conquered-fear-and-changed-the-world-20130205 Rosenberg, Jennifer. Muhammad Ali: A Biography of the Famous Boxer. Retrieved on 8th May 2015 from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/muhammadali.htm Giunta, Carrie. 2014. How Boxer Muhammad Ali broke the dam between sport and anti-war politics. Retrieved on 8th May 2015 from http://www.stopwar.org.uk/news/how- muhammad-ali-broke-the-dam-between-sport-and-anti-war-politics Read More