Muhammad Ali: A Champion beyond Boxing, A Global Voice Beyond the Ring

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky U.S. was a professional boxer and one of the most well-known cultural personalities of American origins. He was a three-time World Heavyweight Champion known as lightning fast, fast witting and unapologetically confidence. Ali died June 3, 2016, with a legacy that transcended sports.

Muhammad Ali was much more than a boxer he was a revolutionary force in the society and in the sports world. Ali redefined the art of being a champion with his exceeded charisma, daring action, and poetic confidence. He mesmerized the world during his battles in the ring with his trademark fighting, a style that put him at the frontline of the boxing stadium as he could fight and defend with the words float like a butterfly, sting like a bee which became synonymous with his tactical prowess in fights. He was a gold medalist at the Olympics in 1960 and later won world heavyweight championship thrice by beating some of the legends including Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman.

However, the external influence that Ali had was what made him immortal. He hit the peak of his career when he opposed the Vietnam War and gave away years of his achievements to stay true to what he believed in. His form of defiance to be drafted and conversion to Islam created him as a symbol of strong stand and independence. He took advantage of his status as a global stage to raise his voice against racial injustice, religious intolerance and political oppression.

Among Ali accolades is that he was named the Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC. Millions were inspired by his life as he made them realize that more important than the title is the strength to stand up and fight over what you believe in. Muhammad Ali has been the eternal legend that inspires other athletes, activists and dreamers just like he was in the earlier days.