He is recognized as the greatest athlete of modern times. In the boxing ring, he was nothing short of superb, punishing his opponents at will.
Yet, it was outside of the ring that he he would have his greatest battles – and show the world what it really meant to be a man. In this week's Biographix, we discover what it was that made Muhammad Ali the greatest.
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up. Early Life
Cassius Marcellus Clay was born om January 17th, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. His father, Cassius, Senior, was a sign painter, while his mother, Odessa, worked as a maid for wealthy white folks in Louisville.
A precocious but polite child, young Cassius was raised as a God-fearing Baptist along with his younger brother Rudy. In his younger years he gave no indication to his athletic future.
He steered clear of sports, preferring to play marbles with Rudy or read comic books on his bed. In 1954, when he was twelve years,
Cassius and a friend rode their bicycles to the Columbia Auditorium, which was hosting the Louisville Home Show. They spent the afternoon checking out the wares of various African-American merchants
and gorging themselves on the free popcorn and candy that was on offer. When they emerged from the exhibition,
the boys were dismayed to discover that Cassius' brand new red and white Schwinn bike was missing. It had been stolen. Cassius was livid with rage. Crying and upset he began asking people if they'd seen who took his bike.
A woman suggested that he report the theft to Officer Joe Martin who operated a boxing gym in a nearby basement. Finding Martin, Cassius explained what had happened, adding that he was going to 'whup' whoever had taken his bike.
