Thousands attend Muhammad Ali's funeral service in Louisville
Thousands of people gathered for Muhammad Ali's funeral service in Kentucky to pay their respects to the legend. The jenazah took place in Freedom Hall, the complex where the former heavyweight world champion had defeated Willi Besmanoff in 1961 in his last fight in Louisville. Another final prayer will take place where people like Bill Clinton, Tayyip Erdogan and Billy Crystal will be present.
- Muhammad Ali: The rising star of the boxing ring
- Cassius Clay becomes Muhammad Ali, declares himself the greatest
- A controversial champion
- US Supreme Court reverses Ali's conviction
- Round 2: Muhammad Ali's return to the ring
- Muhammad Ali- the humanitarian
- Muhammad Ali- 'The Greatest of All Time' passes away
- Muhammad Ali died of 'septic shock'
- Thousands attend Muhammad Ali's funeral service in Louisville
Muhammad Ali: The rising star of the boxing ring
Muhammad Ali's boxing career began when he won the Golden Gloves titles shortly before heading to the 1960 Olympics in Rome. In Rome, he won a gold medal as a light heavyweight. He then moved to Miami to train with the legendary trainer Angelo Dundee to fight for the heavyweight title. Ali's first big win was against Sonny Liston in 1964.
Cassius Clay becomes Muhammad Ali, declares himself the greatest
Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay, a name he renounced as his 'slave name' after converting to Islam. He waited till he won over Sonny Liston and did 2 things: took the name of Muhammad Ali and proclaimed: "I am the greatest! I am the greatest! I'm the king of the world."
A controversial champion
Ali defended his title 6 times successfully. In 1967, at the time of Vietnam War, Ali was conscripted to serve in the U.S. Army. He refused to serve saying that the war did not comport with Islam and that he had "no quarrel" with America's adversary, the Vietcong. He was stripped of his boxing title and sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment.
US Supreme Court reverses Ali's conviction
Ali's conviction was reversed in 1971 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which in a unanimous decision said that the Department of Justice had inappropriately told the draft board that Ali's Vietnam stance wasn't motivated by religious faith.
Round 2: Muhammad Ali's return to the ring
In 1971, Ali lost his first match as a pro to Joe Frazier. The two fought again in 1974 ("Rumble in the Jungle") and 1975 ("Thrilla in Manila"), both times Ali defeated Frazier. He defended his title till 1978 when he was beaten by Leon Spinks. In 1980 he lost to Trevor Berbick. In 1981, Ali retired from boxing, he was 39.
Muhammad Ali- the humanitarian
A year after his retirement, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. A true humanitarian, he went to Lebanon in 1985 and Iraq in 1990 to attempt the release of American hostages. In 1996, he lit the Olympic flame with shaking arms in Atlanta. In 2005, he was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W Bush.
Muhammad Ali- 'The Greatest of All Time' passes away
The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali died today. He had been hospitalised at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being attended for respiratory difficulties. The boxer who had proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and then spent a lifetime living up to the self-claim was 74. A funeral service will be held in his hometown of Louisville.
Muhammad Ali died of 'septic shock'
Muhammad Ali's family has stated that the legend died of 'septic shock due to unspecified natural causes.' Medical experts have not confirmed if the shock was caused by the respiratory illness or Parkinson's disease that Ali was suffering from before his death. A public funeral is scheduled to take place on 10 June in his hometown of Louisville in Kentucky.
Thousands attend Muhammad Ali's funeral service in Louisville
Thousands of people gathered for Muhammad Ali's funeral service in Kentucky to pay their respects to the legend. The jenazah took place in Freedom Hall, the complex where the former heavyweight world champion had defeated Willi Besmanoff in 1961 in his last fight in Louisville. Another final prayer will take place where people like Bill Clinton, Tayyip Erdogan and Billy Crystal will be present.
