Muhammad+Ali

"Muhammad Ali Biography." 29 Jan 2009 http://www.biographyonline.net/sport/muhammad_ali.html.
 * born Cassius Clay, Jr.
 * born January 17, 1942
 * 1999 was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated
 * won heavy weight boxing championship three times
 * born in Louisville, Kentucky
 * changed name after joining Islam group
 * Sunni Islam
 * 1975- switched to Islam
 * 6 foot 3 inches
 * relied on ability to avoid punch
 * didn't hold hands in front of his face
 * October 29, 1960 won his first fight
 * from 1960-1963 he held a record of 19-0 with 15 knockouts
 * defeated Toni Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, and Lamar Clark
 * almost lost to Doug Jones and Henry Cooper
 * became top contender for Sonny Liston's title
 * 1966- refused to serve in the U.S. army because his religion did not fight in any christian war
 * could not fight much in 1966
 * 1967- defended his title nine times
 * diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1980's
 * species of a rose has been named after him

Parekh, Nilesh. "Muhammad Ali Biography." 27-01-2005 30 Jan 2009 .
 * parents were Cassius Sr. and Odessa
 * bike stolen in 1954 which started his career
 * took boxing classes young because of that
 * over 100 ammeture boxing lessons helped with career
 * 1960- got gold medal at summer Olympics in Rhome
 * became Islam because of racism
 * met Captain Sam and Malcolm X who influenced him
 * 1964- beat Sonny Liston
 * created "Ali Shuffle" "Dancing in the Ring" and "Head Hunter"
 * 53 wins out of 55
 * 35 knockouts
 * 1974- knocked out Joe Frazierretired 1979
 * lost last fight against Larry Holmes
 * all together, 37 knockouts
 * won 56 fights
 * lost 5 fights
 * trained by Angelo Dundee
 * always spoke before matches
 * defeated title 19 times
 * Fred Stoner was his first trainer

"Muhammad Ali." __Gale Cengage Learning__ 30 Jan 2009 .
 * 18 years old- won first award
 * began boxing at age of 12
 * famous for "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"
 * age 21- became Muslim
 * given name by Elijah Muhammad
 * co-wrote biography: the greatest; my own story
 * 1981- lost to Trever Berbick
 * has 9 children
 * 1960- became heavyweight champ
 * won Olympic gold medal and later tossed it into river
 * did that because was upset at racism in America
 * Muhammad Ali means "beloved of Allah"
 * many people criticized Ali because of his religion
 * in May of 1967 he was stripped of boxing license
 * also stripped of his titles
 * Parkinson's was brought on by many blows to the head
 * offered 250, 00 to quit career but kept on going
 * 9 children
 * 4 wives all together
 * lives in Chicago

Early, Gerald. "African American Literature: Muhammad Ali." __Answers Corporation.__ (2009) 3 Feb 2009 .
 * nicknamed "The Greatest"
 * won heavy weight champion on 3 different occasions in 15 years
 * sentenced 5 years in prison for draft evasion
 * beat George Foreman in 1974
 * referred to as GOAT- greatest of all time
 * one of the five mos recognized faces on the planet
 * made Islam beliefs more popular after Malcolm X was assassinated
 * movies: "Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World," "When We Were Kings," etc.
 * rapper also
 * first named Cassius X when first joining Black Muslim
 * first knockout in first round- Sonny Liston
 * defended title 8 times
 * very involved in politics after his boxing career
 * 1996- chosen to light torch in the Olympics in Atlanta
 * books: Muhammad Ali in Perspective, Muhammad Ali: Memories, etc.
 * seven daughters, two sons
 * as a young boy and growing up, he was poor
 * began boxing at age of 12
 * likes politics because of interest in racism in America