He said ‘I am the greatest’, but rarely have such words rung true with so many. The boxing legend Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on 17 January 1942. His bike was stolen when he was a young boy, Ali said to the policeman, who happened to train young boxers at a nearby gym, that he was going to whup the culprit. The policeman went on to say ‘he stood out because he had more determination than most boys, he was easily the hardest worker of any kid I ever taught.’
Despite his apparent confidence, he purchased a parachute before he would board a plane to Rome for the 1960 Olympics because of his fear of flying. This made him a star in liberal America but upon return to his native Kentucky he was refused a table in a restaurant because he was black. Ali threw his medal in the bin. He refused to join the army and fight in the Vietnam War claiming ‘I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.’ He was banned from the game but after three years was allowed to return to the ring.
His boxing career dwindled in the 1980’s but his presence on the world stage as sporting hero remained strong. He only lost 5 of his over 60 games but the losses will fade into history and Muhammad Ali will forever reign as one of the greats.