How Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali - the great boxer and his strange beliefs. Joining the Nation of Islam

On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, died. It was he who showed boxing fans how you can “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” In this review dedicated to memory famous boxer, we are little known to the congregation and very Interesting Facts about this amazing person.

1. Cassius Clay

Muhammad Ali was given the name Cassius Clay at birth. It was named after a white farmer and abolitionist of the nineteenth century who gave freedom to forty slaves inherited from his father.

2. Irish roots

Although Muhammad Ali was one of the most famous African-Americans in history, he actually also had Irish roots. His great-grandfather was an Irishman named Abe Grady who immigrated to the United States and settled in Kentucky in the 1860s, where he married a freed slave.

3. Stolen Schwinn

Young Cassius was inspired to become a boxer by the theft of his beloved red and white Schwinn bicycle. When a bicycle was stolen in 1954, twelve-year-old Ali reported the theft to a police officer who also taught boxing lessons at a local community center.

As a result, the officer suggested that Ali teach him to stand up for himself. Just six weeks later the boy won his first amateur boxing match.

4. Kentucky Golden Gloves

As an amateur boxer, Ali won 100 of his 108 fights, including six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships and an Olympic gold medal. gold medal on Olympic Games ah in Rome in 1960.

5. From the bridge to the river

About him Olympic medal there were many stories. Ali himself wrote in his 1975 autobiography that after returning to Louisville, he threw his gold medal off a bridge into the Ohio River to protest the racism still encountered in his hometown.

However, this has been disputed by some close to the boxer, who claim that Ali made up the story after accidentally losing his medal. One way or another, during the 1996 Summer Olympics, Ali received a gold medal to replace the lost one.

6. Album "I am the Greatest" (all sorts of nonsense)

Ali was known for often talking nonsense. He even wrote his own poems in which he mocked his opponents and praised himself. The people at Columbia Records were so impressed by his ridicule that they decided to release an entire album in 1963 called I Am the Greatest, in which twenty-one-year-old Ali rapped his trash talk to musical accompaniment.

7. Victory over Liston

After he defeated Liston to win the world heavyweight title in 1964, the new champion confirmed reports that he had converted to Islam. Inspired by African-American Islamic spiritual leader and civil rights activist Malcolm X, Ali changed his name to Cassius X.

8. Muhammad Ali refused to join the army

Muhammad Ali refused to join the US Army and take part in the Vietnam War, which he considered unjust. The boxer famously stated: "Not a single Viet Congress never called me Niger."

9. Ali was sentenced to five years

As a result of his refusal, he was sentenced to five years in prison. Also Ali was also stripped of title world champion and he was banned from entering the ring for three years. And this was the heyday of his career.

10. Buck White Musical

During his forty-three month forced absence from the ring, Ali played main role in the Broadway musical Buck White. Unfortunately, the musical closed just four days later after seven performances. Despite the project's failure, Ali, who played a militant black lecturer, received decent reviews.

11. "Battle of the Century"

In 1971, Muhammad Ali entered the ring against Joe Frazier. This match went down in history as the “Battle of the Century.” Ali and Frazier were paid $5 million for the fight, held at Madison Square Garden. This was the first professional fight that Ali lost.

12. "Thriller in Manila"

Muhammad Ali fought Frazier two more times, winning both matches. One of them, which is known as the "Thriller in Manila", is rated as one of the best in the history of the sport.

13. "Rumble in the Jungle"

The "Rumble in the Jungle" fight that followed his fight with Frazier (October 30, 1974) is one of the most iconic fights in boxing. In the Zairean capital Kinshasa, Ali defeated George Foreman (who was considered unbeatable at the time) by knockout in the eighth round.

14. Fifteen rounds of victory

In 1978, Muhammad Ali regained his title against Leon Spinks, which he won by unanimous decision after fifteen rounds. Thus, he became the first world boxing champion to win the title for the third time.

15. Ali returned to boxing

In 1980, at the age of thirty-eight, Ali returned to boxing to fight for the title in heavyweight champion against then champion Larry Holmes. This was the first and only time Ali lost by knockout in the eleventh round. Unfortunately, during this match the first signs of Parkinson's disease were publicly noticed.

16. Olympic flame

On July 19, 1996, Ali, constantly shaking (from Parkinson's disease), lit the torch at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. It was noted by Sports Illustrated as one of the most emotional moments in sports history.

17. First in advertising

On February 4, 1999, Muhammad Ali became the first boxer to appear on a box of Wheaties breakfast cereal.

18. Spartan training

It's hard to believe today, but Ali trained his speed by dodging rocks. He asked his best friend to throw stones at him and practice dodging them.

19. IQ Ali

The US Army measured Ali's IQ, which was... 78. In his autobiography, Ali jokingly said: "I claimed that I was the greatest, not the smartest."

20. Most Outstanding Athlete

In 1999, Ali was named the most outstanding North American athlete of the twentieth century by Sports Illustrated.

21. Equipment is more expensive than an athlete

Almost fifty years after that fight with Liston, the gloves Ali wore in that fight brought in more money than the boxer earned for championship fight. In 2013, an anonymous buyer purchased the gloves Ali wore to win his first world title for $836,000. By comparison, Ali only earned $630,000 for his victory.

22. Tribute to Muhammad Ali

The Greatest of All Time: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali, published by Benedikt Taschen, weighs 34 kilograms. Moreover, it is covered with silk and leather from Louis Vuitton. The book has 780 pages, its size is 50x cm. It contains 600,000 words and more than 3,000 images.

Muhammad Ali freed hostages in Iraq.

On November 27, 1990, Muhammad Ali met with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad to negotiate the release of American hostages in Iraq and Kuwait. The following month, Ali personally escorted fifteen freed American hostages from Iraq, which only added to his respect throughout the world.

To everyone who prefers active image life, it's worth learning about.

On January 17, 1942, housewife Odessa Clay gave birth to a son in Louisville, Kentucky. The boy was named after his father, an artist by profession, Cassius Jr. However, the world recognizes him under the pseudonym Muhammad Ali. Cassius's brother Rudolf, who appeared to the couple 2 years later, having matured, will also change his real name to Rahman Ali.

Their family was never in need, representing the middle class, although the living conditions of the white and black populations differed. The father of the family made a living by painting signs, his wife periodically worked part-time by cooking and cleaning in rich houses. The budget was even enough to save money for a cottage in a very good “black” area.

The childhood and youth of the future champion were far from cloudless. In the 1950s, there was a very difficult atmosphere of inequality in America. Even 10-year-old Cassius felt the pressure and fell asleep crying, not understanding why blacks were considered second-class people. The father made his contribution to his sons’ worldview by showing them photographs of Emmett Till, a black teenager brutally murdered by whites, who were later found but not imprisoned. Ironically, Odessa Clay was proud of her white Irish grandfather. And although the images of white “rapist slave owners” will forever settle in the head of Cassius Jr., which he liked to say from the stands, there was nothing to reproach his Irish ancestor for - he entered into a legal marriage with his black lover.

After 12-year-old Clay's favorite bicycle was stolen, he threatened to beat the offenders. A white policeman and part-time boxing coach he met, Joe Martin, reasonably remarked that “before you beat someone, you first need to learn how to do it.” And Cassius began to study, taking his brother along for training.

It was difficult to train Cassius: he bullied others a lot, constantly shouted that he best athlete And future champion. Joe Martin even often kicked him out of the gym, and none of the coaches could see much potential in the guy.

6 weeks after the boy joined the section, the first fight took place. To Cassius's particular delight, the fight was broadcast on television. Despite his lack of experience, the future Muhammad Ali defeats his white opponent, and his joy knows no bounds. He shouts at the camera that he will become a great boxer. From that moment on, the real work on myself began.

Boxing

In 1956, he won the Golden Gloves tournament, which can be considered an excellent start to his career. 100 victories in the amateur ring and only 8 defeats by the time he graduated from school. However, the young boxer studied very poorly, and he owed his school education only to the diligence and understanding of the director. It was so bad that Muhammad Ali forever had trouble reading.

In 1960, Cassius, dreaming of a dizzying sports career, received an invitation to participate in the Olympic Games. The boxer's signature style began to emerge. The innovator seemed to be “dancing” around his opponent on his toes, and his lowered hands provoked a blow, which he always dodged. He was often criticized for both his fighting style and his boastful manner of presenting himself.

Only the fear of flying could stop his pressure. The boxer was so afraid to fly to Rome that he almost abandoned the Olympic Games. Cassius took the plunge by purchasing a parachute. Clay confidently reached the final and in a difficult match defeated the Pole Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, earning a gold medal.

The father was proud of his son and even painted the steps in the color of the US flag. However, nothing has changed in his hometown. And when the champion came with a gold medal to a local cafe that did not serve “colored” people, they still refused to serve him.

Boxer Muhammad Ali hired 11 managers early in his career. He entered professional boxing on October 29, 1960, when he fought with Tanny Hunsecker. Ali prepared diligently for the fight, although he declared that Hunsecker was a slacker and victory would be easy. Victory was truly his. The enemy predicted the world championship for him.

To train with new trainer Angelo Dundee, Clay moves to Miami. There are no authorities for him, but Angelo found an approach. He respected his ward and did not try to control him in everything, but only skillfully directed him.

Clay looked for mentors not only in sports. The beginning of the 60s was the time of his spiritual search. In 1962, he met the leader of the Nation of Islam himself, Muhammad, and became a member of the organization, which greatly influenced his life.

That same year, while continuing to win battle after battle, he voluntarily passed a commission, but never entered the army. Having passed all tests for physical health, he failed an intelligence test by failing to answer the question of how many hours a person works from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., including an hour for lunch. Clay liked to joke:

"I am the greatest, not the smartest!"

In six months in 1962, boxer Muhammad Ali won 5 victories by knockout.

55,000 people came to the stands to watch the fight between Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper. A few seconds before the end of the fourth round, Cooper sent Ali into a heavy knockdown. And if Ali’s friends had not torn the glove, buying a little time for the champion to rest, it is unknown how the fight would have ended. In the 5th round, Muhammad cut Cooper's eyebrow with a blow, and the fight was stopped.

The match between Ali and Liston was entertaining and difficult. Ali outplayed the current world champion, who had a cut on his eyebrow and a serious hematoma. By the fourth round, Ali could no longer see, but the coach insisted on entering the ring and he was right - his vision returned, and boxer Muhammad Ali became the world heavyweight champion.

In subsequent years, Muhammad Ali became “Boxer of the Year” 5 times and deserved the title of not only “Boxer of the Decade,” but also of the Century. In the early 90s, he entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame to forever remain a legend of the sport.

Parkinson's disease

In 1984, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He began to hear and speak poorly, and all motor functions failed. Muhammad bravely withstood the main blow in his life - the blow of fate. An incurable illness was a consequence of an occupational sports activities Glue. His body suffered, but his mind remained sharp and his heart was kind, and the athlete devoted himself to helping people. To this day he is involved in charity work.

Personal life

Muhammad Ali was married 4 times. He separated from his first wife in his early youth because of her reluctance to become a Muslim. The second wife Belinda Boyd (after the marriage of Khalil Ali) bore her husband four children. However, Ali was not an exemplary husband, and his infidelities became the reason for the couple’s divorce.

His mistress Veronica Porsche married him, becoming his third wife in 1977. The marriage lasted 9 years. But Muhammad did not remain alone for long, marrying his close friend Iolanthe Williams. They even adopted a child. In addition to his legitimate children, Muhammad has two more illegitimate daughters.

Death

At the end of May 2016, the world boxing legend suffered from breathing problems. In one of the hospitals in Phoenix, where last years lived Mohammed Ali, he spent several days. But it was not possible to save him.

June 4, 2016. He turned 74 years old. The athlete's main disease was Parkinson's disease.

Probably, today there is hardly a person in the world who has never heard of the “People's Champion”, the brilliant heavyweight of the 60s and 70s. But is it worth saying that Muhammad Ali is a person about whom absolutely everything is known? Of course not. After all, the human soul is a city in which the light is rarely turned on.

The Early Years of Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)

The mother of a future boxer is a completely different matter. Odessa Grady Clay was a housekeeper who worked primarily in the homes of wealthy white Louisianans. She cooked and cleaned, and always remembered at every opportunity that her father was Irish. It is quite noteworthy that Muhammad Ali himself repeatedly said that “white blood” makes him weaker. Although Cassius Clay's rivals could certainly argue with this.

Our today's hero began to get involved in sports at the age of twelve after... someone stole his bicycle. His family was not poor, however, despite this, his own “great” always seemed to Cassius a real treasure. That is why the fact of his disappearance became one of the most difficult episodes in the life of a young guy. That day, Mohammed Ali swore that he would definitely “hit” the thief. With this idea, he first came to the boxing training room. This is how the legendary career of a great fighter in world sports began. He came to the gym with his two-year younger brother Rudolf, who later helped Cassius in sparring. It is noteworthy that initially the coaches, with the exception of Fred Stone, did not see any prospects in the guy.

Soon the first fight of Cassius Clay took place. Once, in a three-round confrontation, he defeated a boy from Louisiana - Rony Okiba. After this, the young boxer was invited to local television and performed in the “Stars of Tomorrow” program.

The heyday of Muhammad Ali's career

Muhammad Ali: the best knockouts!

In 1960, the great athlete volunteered for the US Army. It was during this period that he began to create his own unique boxing style. He asked his brother and army buddies to throw stones at him from close range so that he could learn to dodge them. Moreover, in fights with his opponents, he often “danced” in the ring, standing in front of his opponent with his hands down. This boastful style caused many negative reviews from professional boxers, but attracted the attention of the general public to Cassius.

Also in 1960, the young boxer won the Amateur Athletic Union tournament and received an invitation to take part in qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games. However, performance at this competition was purely a formality. Having received the coveted ticket to the Olympics, Cassius went to Rome, where he confidently confirmed his championship. The Olympic gold medal was the first serious success in the career of our today's hero.

Muhammad Ali at the 1960 Olympics

In 1964, the talented native of Louisville first appeared before the public under the name Muhammad Ali - a name under which the athlete forever entered the history of boxing. Shortly before this, the athlete converted to Islam. As is commonly believed, the reason for this decision was the athlete’s dislike for white people - throughout his childhood and youth, Cassius and his family suffered from racial oppression.

In 1964, Mohammed became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and held this title for two years in a row. Subsequently, he won the title “Boxer of the Year” five times (1963, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978), and was also recognized as “Boxer of the Decade” (70s). In 1974, Ali was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated. In 1987, he was included in the American Boxing Hall of Fame, and three years later - in the international one.

Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in the same studio - in Russian

The end of Muhammad Ali's career

Due to the ensuing lack of money in 1980, Mohammed was forced to enter the ring again. That time his opponent was the current champion Larry Holmes, who confidently defeated the veteran. The legendary boxer looked downright pathetic. But despite this, Mohammed received about eight million dollars for that fight.

This time the money earned was invested in business and real estate. However, despite the financial success, in 1981 the boxer entered the ring again. In his fight with Canadian heavyweight Trevor Berbick, he looked pretty good, but still lost. From that moment on, Mohammed never entered the ring again.

Muhammad Ali vs Trevor Berbick fight

In 1984 former boxer A terrible disease was diagnosed - Parkinson's syndrome, which caused Mohammed to have problems with coordination and breathing. However, the athlete's mind remained clear, and thanks to the prescribed levodopa drug, he was able to cope with everyday activities. Realizing that a further career as a boxer was out of the question, Mohammed Ali decided to devote his life to charity: he helped those in need, called on wealthy Americans to follow his example, and participated in negotiations with radical Islamists in Lebanon and Iraq.

Personal life of Muhammad Ali

The second marriage, to Belinda Boyd (later Khalilah Ali), lasted longer and resulted in the birth of four children: three daughters and a son named Mohammed Ali Jr. Soon after the birth of their fourth child, the couple’s relationship began to crack, and Mohammed began an affair with model Veronica Porsche, who, as noted in many sources, was not his only mistress. One way or another, it was Veronica who became the official reason for the divorce of Mohammed and Khalila.

Muhammad Ali and Veronica Porsche married in 1977. Soon they had two children.

This union lasted for nine years. After his divorce from Veronica Porsche legendary boxer married longtime girlfriend Iolanthe Williams. Soon they adopted a five-year-old boy together. In addition, Mohammed had two more illegitimate children from affairs on the side.

Death of Muhammad Ali

In memory of Muhammad Ali

In 1964, Cassius Clay converted to Islam and renounced his “slave name.” After joining the Nation of Islam, he was given the name Mohammed Ali. The irony is that Ali's parents named him after Cassius Marcellus Clay, a former abolitionist who advocated for the abolition of slavery and the freeing of slaves in the 19th century.

2. Irish descent

Even more surprising is that Ali hated whites. Mohammed's great-grandfather on his mother's side, Abe Grady, who moved from Ireland to Kentucky in the mid-19th century, was legally married to his black wife. The couple had a son, the future father of Mohammed Ali's mother Odessa Lee. In 2009, former absolute champion World Boxing Championships visited Ennis, a small town in the West of Ireland, and met with his relatives there.

3. The first “victim”

“The first person I knocked out was my mother,” Ali said. At the age of two, Mohammed knocked out two of his mother Odessa Clay's teeth.

Muhammad Ali with his mother Odessa Clay

4. An idol named Sugar

5. Ali never threw his medal into the river

According to one of the many legends, in 1960, after returning from the Roman Olympic Games, Mohammed was refused service in one of the restaurants in his native Louisville. This upset Ali so much that he allegedly threw his gold medal into the Ohio River. Later, the legendary boxer admitted that he simply lost the award. Ali received a copy of the medal in 1996 during the opening of the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

6. Ali was a bad student

“After beating Liston in 1965, I met Ali at his motel. Some Mexican asked Mohammed for an autograph and said that he had many friends in Mexico. Ali immediately replied: Mexico? Oh cool! How do you spell Mexico? “I haven’t been to school for a long time,” Muhammad Ali’s manager William Klein said in 2012.

7. Boxer, dancer and singer

In addition to oratory, Ali had another talent, which was very underestimated. In 1963, shortly before his fight against Sonny Liston, then-Cassius Clay released an album called “The Greatest.” Later, when the boxer converted to Islam, Columbia Records withdrew the album from sale.

8. Ali saved a man from suicide

CBS news report on the incident involving Ali

9. Attitude to illness

In 1984, after a long examination in a New York hospital, doctors came to the conclusion that Ali was suffering from Parkinson's disease. “This is God's decision. He gave me this disease to remind me that number one in this world is not me, but he,” Muhammad Ali reacted to the shocking news.

10. Not like everyone else

In 2002, Ali received his star in Hollywood, but not the famous Walk of Fame. The legendary athlete asked to be celebrated on the wall at the Kodak Theater, where the Oscars are held annually. Ali did not want his name to be trampled on.

Muhammad Ali: Biography of the legendary boxer

From open sources

One of the most famous and recognizable boxers in the history of world boxing died on June 4, 2016 in the hospital, surrounded by his children.

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, is one of the most famous and recognizable boxers in the history of world boxing.

He was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Odessa Clay, a housewife, and Cassius Clay, a sign and poster artist. Two years later, his only sibling Rudolf was born, who later changed his name to Rahman Ali.

Clay's family was much poorer than middle-class white families, but they were not needy. Cassius Sr. painted signs in an attempt to become a professional artist, and his wife sometimes cooked and cleaned the homes of wealthy white families. Over time, their savings were enough to purchase a small cottage in a comfortable “black” neighborhood for $4.5 thousand.

Unlike many black peers who had to provide for their families with early age, Cassius did not work as a child. He only occasionally worked part-time at the University of Louisville (washing desks and blackboards) in order to have pocket money.

In the early 1950s, an atmosphere of racial inequality reigned in Louisville, which greatly influenced the formation of the personality of 10-year-old Cassius. He later recalled that he cried before falling asleep because he did not understand why blacks were considered second-class citizens in society. His mother said that one hot day she and Cassius were waiting for a bus at the bus stop. She knocked on a nearby cafe to ask for a glass of water for her son, but they refused and closed the door on her.

Clay started boxing at age 12 after his red bicycle, which he bought with money he earned, was stolen. The day after the purchase, Cassius and a friend went to a fair, where children were treated to free ice cream. While getting ready to go home, he discovered that the bicycle was missing. Clay was very upset and at that moment he met a white policeman, Joe Martin, and told him that he would beat up the person who stole the bicycle. Martin replied: “Before you beat someone, you must first learn how to do it.” He invited Cassius to the gym, where he trained young boxers.

From the very beginning it was difficult to train him; Clay constantly got into fights with other guys, announcing to the whole room that he best boxer and become world champion. Because of this, Martin had to briefly kick him out of the hall. The trainers, with the exception of Fred Stoner, who taught the young boxer how to properly execute the jab, did not see much potential in Cassius.

Six weeks after his first visit to the gym, Cassius’ debut amateur fight took place. The fight was broadcast on television in the “Future Champions” program. His opponent was white teenager Ronnie O'Keefe, both boxers competed in weight category up to 89 lbs (40.389 kg). Cassius was younger and less experienced, despite this, he won by decision. After the result was announced, Clay began shouting into the camera that he would become the greatest boxer. From that moment on, he worked every day on his boxing technique and endurance. He didn't drink, smoke or use drugs, becoming a fanatic about healthy eating.

The start of a brilliant career

For two next years Clay fought approximately one fight every three weeks, winning victory after victory. In 1956, he won the first Golden Gloves tournament of his career. In 1957, he had to give up training for four months because doctors discovered he had a heart murmur. Later it turned out that the heart was completely fine.

At the age of 15, Clay transferred to Central high school Louisville, the largest school for African Americans in the city. Cassius's performance was so poor that he once had to repeat a year, but thanks to the support of school principal Atwood Wilson, he was able to graduate. Wilson was impressed by Clay's dedication and hard training, and wanted the promising boxer to graduate and bring fame to the school. Cassius graduated from the educational institution in June 1960, receiving only a certificate of attendance, but not a diploma, which was issued upon successful completion of his studies. He always had problems with reading, and people around him often had to read to him.

At the same time, by the end of school, Clay had won 100 victories in the amateur ring, suffering only 8 defeats.

Worldwide fame

Clay's debut in professional boxing took place on October 29, 1960, his opponent was Tanny Hunsecker.

Between February and July 1962, Clay scored five victories, all fights ending in knockouts no later than the sixth round.

At the age of 22, Clay became the world champion in heavyweight, winning a world title fight against Sonny Liston.

After the rematch with Norton, the stage was set for a second fight against Frazier, which was again scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden. Before this, Ali fought a fight against Dutch heavyweight Rudi Lubbers, which took place in Indonesia. Mohammed dominated throughout the fight and won by unanimous decision. A few months before the fight, Ali began his attacks in the press. Fraser tried to concentrate on training and not react to his attacks. But during an interview on the ABC channel, Joe's nerves could not stand it, and he fought with Mohammed right on the air. On the day of the fight, Madison Square Garden was sold out, filled with celebrities, including John Kennedy Jr. and current world champion George Foreman.

Unlike the first fight, Ali decided not to fight near the ropes, but focused on moving around the ring and throwing a large number of jabs; at the slightest danger, Mohammed “tied” his opponent’s hands and did not allow him to hit. At the end of the second round, Ali landed an accurate right hook to Frazier's head, which made his legs give way. After an accurate blow, Mohammed began to develop an attack, but the referee made a mistake: thinking that the round was over, he separated the boxers to their corners, giving Joe time to recover. This oversight by the referee did not help Frazier, who was unable to do anything for 12 rounds; the judges unanimously gave the victory to Ali. After the fight, Joe disagreed with the judges' decision, openly declaring that the victory was stolen from him, and also that his opponent acted "dirty" during the fight

During his career, Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali) fought 61 fights, in which he scored 56 victories, 37 of them by knockout.

When Muhammad Ali lost, the audience in the hall cried

For two years, Ali did not enter the ring; during his career he earned about $50 million, but only a small part was invested in business, the rest went to Mohammed’s entourage.

In 1980, Ali felt the need for money, which prompted him to fight again. By that time, Mohammed did not have much desire to enter the ring again; he was paired with someone who was in his prime current champion world by Larry Holmes. The boxers were well acquainted with each other, since Holmes was Ali's sparring partner.

The fight took place on October 2, 1980, at that time Mohammed was 38 years old, he had excess weight, and he looked downright slow. The champion respected Ali and tried not to injure the veteran, but, nevertheless, inflicted numerous injuries on him during the fight. Holmes dominated throughout the fight and won every round comfortably; many believed that he did not seek to knock out Ali because he was afraid of causing him serious injury.

In the tenth round, Angelo Dundee did not let his charge into the ring, shouting: “I am the chief second! I demand that the fight be stopped!” This was the first fight in which Mohammed lost ahead of schedule. The camera captured spectators in the hall, many of whom were crying.

For your last Stand Ali earned about $8 million, which significantly improved his financial situation. This time he used the money wisely, investing it in business and real estate. However, despite his financial success, Mohammed again decided to enter the ring and was surprised to find that none of the leading boxers wanted to fight him, and also that the athletic commissions of most states were not going to issue him a license to fight due to his condition his health. Despite all the difficulties, Ali managed to get permission to fight in the Bahamas with Canadian heavyweight Trevor Berbick. Mohammed looked much better than in the Holmes fight and even dominated the fifth round. However, despite this, Ali lost by unanimous decision in a 10-round fight. After this fight, Mohammed announced his retirement and never entered the professional ring again.