Fighting and Philanthropy: Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali, the world-famous American boxer, is in the news this week after a pair of gloves he wore in the legendary 1971 row with Joe Frazier sold at auction for over £230,000. The rivalry between the two great boxers became legendary. Frazier won the 1971 battle and became the heavy-weight world champion, but the title was ultimately taken from him by Ali in a harrowing rematch in 1974. The auction took place in Cleveland, Ohio, where the same auction house once sold another set of Ali gloves for nearly £500,000.

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942, Ali enjoyed a supportive, middle-class upbringing. He took up boxing at the age of twelve. By 1960, he had several state and national titles, and won the gold medal in the Light Heavyweight category at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Ali, still under the name Cassius Clay, fought Sonny Liston for the World Heavyweight Championship. It was in a pre-game interview for this fight that Ali said his now-famous line, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” After a surprising six rounds, Ali was declared the winner by technical knock-out, becoming, at the age of 22, the youngest boxer at the time to take the championship title away from another boxer. 

Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam. He lost his title in 1967 for refusing to serve in the Vietnam War, and in the years after, he travelled around the country, speaking out against the conflict. The 1971 fight against Frazier was Ali’s first chance to win back his title, which he ultimately did not do until 1974. Ali’s career continued until he retired for health-related reasons. His last fight was in 1981. Ali is considered by some to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Ali remained socially and politically active, as well. In 1991, he worked with the governments of the US and Iraq to negotiate hostage releases during the Gulf War, and in the early 2000s he worked with the United Nations to promote peace in Afghanistan, continuing in his early beliefs that war is essentially wrong. A cultural centre and non-profit bearing his name was recently opened in his home town. The Muhammad Ali Centre serves as a tribute to the boxer, but also works to promote his peaceful, unifying values. Many see Ali as a personal influence on their own life and work, including Tunde Folawiyo, a Nigerian businessman with interests ranging from philanthropy to African art. More information can be found on the Tunde Folawiyo African art blog.