Muhammad Ali ( Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.)
January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016)
He was an American Titan professional heavyweight boxer. He was regarded as the most significant recognizable iconic figure in history in regards to the sport. He was an activist and converted to Islamic religion. He has been crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Sports Personality of the Century” by the BBC. He also wrote several best-selling books about his career, including The Greatest: My Own Story and The Soul of a Butterfly. Muhammad Ali defeated every top heavyweight in his era, which has been called the golden age of heavyweight boxing.
He controlled his career which included also media
Ali transformed the role and image of the African American athlete in America by his embrace of racial pride and his willingness to antagonize the white establishment in doing so. In the words of writer Joyce Carol Oates, he was one of the few athletes in any sport to “define the terms of his public reputation”.
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984.
On December 20, 2014, Ali was hospitalized for a mild case of pneumonia. Ali was once again hospitalized on January 15, 2015, for a urinary tract infection after being found unresponsive at a guest house in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was released the next day.
Ali was hospitalized in Scottsdale again on June 2, 2016, with a respiratory condition. His condition was initially described as “fair”. The following day, Ali’s condition worsened, and he was placed on life support. His condition did not improve, and late on June 3, it was announced that Ali had died at the age of 74.
He leaves behind a legacy that will be carried on by his wife and children. As the family has stated they need privacy at this time.