About This Quiz
Before Rocky Balboa won the hearts of moviegoers far and wide, a few real-life boxers captivated fans everywhere. At the top of that list has to be Muhammad Ali, who in addition to his incredible boxing prowess was just a fascinating individual with opinions he wasn’t afraid to share. He was immortalized in the 2001 film “Ali,†which earned actor Will Smith an Academy Award best actor nomination for his transformative depiction of the legend, who was often known for his unparalleled confidence.
Ali’s path was filled with the unexpected, and he wasn’t afraid of being different if it was in line with his core self. He was a fighter who moonlighted as a poet. As a boxer, he was different than most, relying more on his quick feet and his ability to “float." He changed his name, religion and took enormous risks to stand by his beliefs. Sure, he could be polarizing at times, but even his biggest detractors had to admit that he was a heck of a fighter. Despite his death in 2016, his legacy lives on through his charitable foundation, as well as his family members, including his daughter and former pro boxer, Laila Ali.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see" was a famous Ali quote to describe his boxing style. What else can you learn about this boxing master? Take this quiz and discover if you have what it takes to knock it out!
His name at birth was Cassius Marcellus Clay, a name that he later gave up for religious reasons.
His ceaseless boasting endeared him to fans and enraged his opponents.
He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and died in Phoenix in 2016.
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He amassed those 100 wins by losing only five bouts.
Later in life he would say, "I said I was the greatest, not the smartest!"
He knocked out Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
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He won his gold in the light heavyweight division. He was only 18 years old.
He beat Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, who was a three-time Olympic medalist.
He went undefeated in those first 19, but they didn't all come easily.
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More than 10,000 people turned up in Ennis, Ireland, to make him an honorary citizen.
Ali was 54 years old at the time and suffering from serious deterioration in his motor skills.
A police officer who witnessed his frustration wound up teaching him boxing skills.
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In spite of his visible tremors, he continued his humanitarian work. The disease may have been spurred by too many blows to the head.
He met with Hussein in 1990 and was criticized by some in the media, as well as President Bush.
He had joined the Nation of Islam in 1964 and started to reform his life in accordance with Muslim teachings.
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Just a couple of weeks later, he received his official Muslim name, Muhammad Ali.
He was banned from boxing for three years and didn't fight again until 1970.
He performed in a short-lived Broadway musical called "Buck White" and was praised for his singing ability.
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It was regarded as one of boxing's biggest upsets and showed that Ali was on the decline.
Ali trained harder and fought smarter and beat Spinks after a 15-round decision.
About 60,000 people showed up to watch Ali take on George Foreman in 1974.
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Foreman was six years younger and considered the hardest-punching boxer in history.
Ali taunted Foreman mercilessly, encouraging Foreman to expend energy in ways that he would come to regret.
The final fight was called the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975 in the Philippines.
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Ali went down once in the pair's first fight, which he lost; Frazier never hit the mat.
Ali won by technical knockout when Frazier's side conceded.
After a few years, the two actually became best friends. Foreman eventually said that Ali was the greatest man he'd ever known.
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Norton handed Ali his second pro defeat in 1973 and also broke his jaw.
His final loss came to Trevor Berbick, a Jamaican who was murdered in 2006.
Ali championed charitable work throughout his life and is known for his goodwill as much as his boxing feats.
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