Daily Times

The world lost a legend today. Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3 due to a respiratory condition and the world not only lost an iconic boxer but perhaps one of the most influential icons in human history.

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior, was hailed as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Ali started training at age 12 and by 22, he defeated Sonny Liston and became world champion. From that point on, Ali experienced both fame and opposition which he always overcame until his decline.

Powerful and fast, Ali took on all comers and retained his title time and time again. Referring to himself as ‘The Greatest’, Ali did what a manager was supposed to do and built himself up by trash talking his opponents and using psychological warfare before his fights.

Ali’s colourful personality stood out among the bland boxers of his time and his popularity skyrocketed. Some people found his trash talking disrespectful and hated on him during his reign but as time went on, boxing fans and people started to really appreciate what Ali was in his prime, a showman with the skills and heart to back his talk up.

Ali kept knocking out his opponents and collecting cheques until 1967, when he was stripped of his boxing world title because he had refused to take part in the Vietnam War. Ali refused to come forward when his name was called during the induction to the army and as a result, he was arrested.

Ali lost his title and was stripped of his boxing licence, missing the prime of fighting life as he was unable to box for over three years but his stance inspired countless Black Americans, including Martin Luther King who voiced his opposition for the war after Ali did so.

Muhammad Ali’s word drew considerable support, establishing movement for civil rights. Ali became a speaker at colleges and universities, often admired by thousands of cheering students and bystanders. In 1971, his boxing licence was reinstated and Ali returned to the ring after missing his prime years.

Despite the critics voicing that Ali was past his prime, Ali shocked the world when he knocked out the undefeated George Foreman in ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and reclaimed the title that he never lost in the ring.

Muhammad Ali then faced Joe Frazier for the third time in a hotly contested match in Manila. By that point, the world began to truly appreciate and respect the boxing legend who won the fight in front of thousands of cheering people.

Later on, Ali declined like any other professional athlete, lost the title but came back and won it again in his next bout, being the only boxer to win the title thrice.

Ali then lost the title and retired from boxing after etching his name into the list of greats. Many people consider him the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Ali inspired people to talk more and train harder. He was also responsible for giving a mainstream push to mixed martial arts in Japan.

It took a while for the world to truly appreciate what an icon Muhammad Ali was but after his retirement, he was beloved by almost every boxing fan for some of the best boxing bouts of all times and people in general due to his stance for equality.

Another remarkable quality of Ali was his devotion to Islam even during the peak of his fame. So much so that Ali used to keep a lighter in his pocket but never smoked, whenever his heart slipped towards a sin, Ali would burn his own palm to remind himself that the fire of hell is far more brutal than the lighter.

Many boxers and mixed martial artists have cited Muhammad Ali as their inspiration and idol which he truly deserved for not only being one of the best boxers of all time but a role model outside the ring. Ali never shied away from opposition and even scarified his prime years because he refused to go against what he believed and refused to participate in the war. His character, morality, charisma and athleticism truly made him one of a kind.

The world will mourn his passing but his name is forever etched in history. Forget boxing and combat sports, Ali was a once in a lifetime human being who will forever be remembered and adored. There will never be another Muhammad Ali, never.

The blogger is a student of LLB at The Institute of Legal Studies.