Birth date: Jan 17, 1942

Date Deceased: June 3, 2016

Place[s] lived : Kentucky , Miami , Rome , Belgium , Russia, Australia , NYC , London , Las Vegas and Arizona

Main idea

Muhammad Ali is known for getting the heavyweight championship 3 times and is a famous boxer. He also won the presidential medal of freedom. He was known for his bravery in the ring, his unique style in the ring, and his many boxing awards and Olympic medals. He also was known for joining the army and not fighting so he got put in jail. He then lost his heavyweight championship but regained it. He was also known for his many quotes.

Background information

When he was a kid, when he went to the south, black and white people were segregated. When Ali was growing up, he wasn't allowed to swim in the same pools or go to the same places as white kids.

Childhood

His childhood was very happy and he was very strong as a baby and as a kid. When he was 12, somone stole his bike and a police officer taght him boxing to control his anger, and that started his boxing career. He changed his name because he changed his religion. He was born with the name Cassius Clay.

What were some challenges / obstacles they faced?

When he changed his name to Muhammad Ali, people still called him his old name. He did not fight in the war because he didn't believe in fighting people he didn't know though he was forced into the army, so he was arrested. Because of this he lost the heavyweight title. He got kicked out of NOI [Nation of Islam] because he had a disagreement with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of NOI.

Question

How are you so brave in the ring? How do you deal with all the pain?

Significance Today

I think he is significant today because many people and boxing champions like to learn about his ability and bravery in the ring. Another reason is that he won the presidential medal of freedom in november 2005, because of the work he did to spread peace in other countries.

Quotes

“ I have wrestled with an alligator, I have tussled with a whale. I have hand cupped lightning, and put thunder in jail… Only last week I hospitalized a brick, I’m so mean I made medicine sick.”

Fun facts

Did you know when Muhammad Ali was a baby he hit his mother in the mouth on accident, loosening a tooth. When he was a child, his name was Cassius Clay and later changed it. He had 9 children after marrying a couple times. One of his sons grew up to be a college basketball star. He was chosen to light the torch at the summer Olympics in 1996.

Character Traits

Character Trait #1: brave

He dealt with lots of challenges, and to get through you need bravery.

Character Trait # 2: persistent

To deal with problems you can't give up so you have to be persistent.

Character Trait #3: athletic

Ali is athletic because he is a boxer and boxing is a very athletic sport, so he is an athlete.