Muhammad Ali - The Greatest :: Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr

In the summer of 1960, a young mankind stood on a podium wearying a golden medal around his neck, while the Star buttony Banner played. A champion stood, not noticeing the nations view on athletes forever. It was the first glimpse for the man who would come to be known as the greatest.Cassius Marcellus system Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942. Young Clay found boxing in 1954 after his cycles/second was stolen at the Louisville Home Show. He reported the theft to local law officer, Joe Martin, and told him he would beat up whoever stole the bike. Martin laughed at the idea of much(prenominal) a small boy beating someone up, so he decided to train Clay. Martin, who similarly taught boxing to local youth at the Columbia Gym, taught the 89-pound Clay how to box during his teenage years. From that day on, Clay would attest up every day at the gym like clockwork work on his skills.By 1958, Clay had dropped out of high school with several(prenominal) amat eur boxing titles, and by 1960, he was preparing to compete in the Olympics. In the gold-medal match for the light- darkweight division, Clay faced Polish southpaw Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, and won the gold in three rounds. After the Olympics, Clay received a turn out from the Louisville Sponsoring Group for $333 a month, plus a $10,000 signing bonus.With no more(prenominal) money problems to worry about, Clay had more time to consider what was exit on in the world around him. He paid heavy attention to the Civil Rights Movement and he wanted to be jump of it. But it was very difficult for a young black man to be heard in the early 1960s. The only group magnanimous a voice to the common man was the Nation of Islam. In 1962, Clay drove to Detroit to hear the Nation of Islams leader, the honorable Elijah Muhammad, speak. He also met someone who would greatly influence his life, a man named Malcolm X.Clay analyse Xs teachings of Islam, but more so, Clay agreed with Xs view on how b lacks were treated in the United States. two Clay and X believed in complete in total separationism between blacks and whites living in America. Im no troublemaker. I dont believe in forced integration. I know where I belong. Im not going to force myself into anybodys house. Clay also advocated Xs criticism on the non-violent case in the southern states.