When he began to write poems predicting his victories in different fights he became known as 'The Louisville Lip.' Both the attention and his skill as a fighter paid off. He was described by one of his handlers as having the ability to 'float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee.'Īli's unique style of boasting, rhyming, and expressing confidence brought him considerable media attention as he moved toward a chance to fight for the world heavyweight boxing championship. Ali worked his way through a series of professional victories, using a style that combined speed with great punching power. It was the biggest contract ever signed by a professional boxer. This led to a contract with a group of millionaires called the Louisville Sponsors Group. At the age of eighteen he competed in the 1960 Olympic games held in Rome, Italy, winning the gold medal in the lightheavyweight division. Although his schoolwork suffered, Ali devoted all of his time to boxing and improved steadily.Īs a teenager Ali won both the national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and Golden Gloves championships. Among the many things Ali learned was how to move with the grace and ease of a dancer. An African American trainer named Fred Stoner taught Ali the science of boxing. Martin began to feature Ali on his local television show, 'Tomorrow's Champions,' and he started Ali working out at Louisville's Columbia Gym. Martin invited Ali to try boxing and soon saw that he had talent. His bicycle had been stolen, and he reported the theft to a policeman named Joe Martin, who gave boxing lessons in a local youth center. His father was a sign painter who also loved to act, sing, and dance his mother worked as a cleaning lady when money was tight. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, the first of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. For his contribution to live performance, Ali was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. The only professional boxer to win the heavy-weight championship three times, Muhammad Ali provided leadership and an example for African American men and women around the world with his political and religious views.

Cassius marcellus clay sr