MUHAMMAD ALI: King of the world

His life has been documented in movies and made-for-TV films, capturing his boxing career, life and fight with Pakinson disease. This month his life-story is profiles when SABC AFRICA on DStv screens MUHAMMAD ALI: KING OF THE WORLD on Monday October 17.

Based on the 1998 bestselling biography by David Renwick, the movie relates the formative days of Ali's career and fame, when he was still fighting under his given name Cassius Clay. In the movie the young Clay, played by Terrence DaShon Howard, pushes his way from poverty-stricken circumstances to the 1960 Olympics.

The movie continues as it shows the eighteen-year-old Ali who had won all amateur titles available (amongst others the National Golden Gloves in Chicago) and qualified for the Olympic trials. This came after he had been knocked down in the first round of the final by a black army champion named Allen Hudson, Clay countered and won by technical knockout in the third round.

But it was his 1964 fight that proved that he is more than just talk when he defeated the World Heavy Weight Champion, Sonny Liston It was during this time that his “self-praise” tactics drew more attention than his skill in the ring. Ali was no ordinary boxing champion and he wasn't just the greatest, he was also the loudest and most controversial boxer the world had ever seen.

And as the film draws to a close, the movie goes beyond the ring and looks at Ali’s passionately held beliefs and principles, his impact on sports, his position as role model and his championing worthwhile causes.

To date, some of Ali’s boxing career highlights that have earned him the status of world icon include his 1960 Olympics gold medal. Fighting George Foreman in The Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire, and going head to head with Joe Frazier in The Thrilla in Manila in the Philippines, Ali established his legacy.

Ali ended his successful career with 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 defeats after being diagnosed with Pakinson disease. In his fight with the disease Ali has inspired millions worldwide while organising a variety of projects aimed at finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay’s on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He later changed his name to Cassius X then to Muhammed Ali after joining the Nation of Islam. Ali grew up in West End Louisville, a black area, together with his younger brother Rudolph. Their father painted religious and commercial plates while their mother, Odessa Clay worked as a cleaner and cook in white upper-class families.

He’s been married three times and had nine children: Maryum, Rasheeda, Jamillah, Hana, Laila, Khaliah, Miya, Muhammad Junior, and Asaad. He’s now married to his childhood sweetheart Lonnie Williams for 19 years. Other well-known movies and documentaries depicting the life of Muhammad Ali include WHEN WE WERE KINGS, THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME and ALI starring veteran actor, Will Smith in a leading role.

.COURTESY: DStv