Muhammad Ali and Mom &Dad

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, grew up in a supportive and loving family. His parents, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay, played significant roles in shaping the future boxing legend's values and determination.

Cassius Sr. was a billboard painter and muralist, known for his outspoken personality and artistic skills. His creativity and boldness left a mark on young Cassius, who would later adopt a similar larger-than-life persona in the ring. Odessa, a household domestic worker, was a devout Baptist, deeply rooted in her faith. Her strong sense of morality and dignity influenced Ali's commitment to justice and later his conversion to Islam.

The Clay household was one of modest means, but it was filled with warmth and encouragement. Despite living in a segregated America, Odessa and Cassius Sr. instilled in their sons the values of self-respect, hard work, and resilience. Ali would carry these lessons throughout his life, becoming not only a boxing champion but also a global symbol for racial equality, humanitarianism, and spiritual dedication.

Ali often spoke about his admiration for his mother, crediting her with his kind nature. His father’s assertive demeanor was also evident in Ali’s confidence and fearless spirit, both inside and outside the ring. Together, they nurtured one of the most iconic athletes in history.

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Rap & Boxing Legend

"I'm better now than I was when you saw that 22-years old undeveloped kid running from Sonny Liston. I'm experienced now, professional. Jaws been broke, been knocked down a couple of times, I'm bad! Been chopping trees. I done something new for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator. That's right. I have wrestled with an alligator. I done tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail. That's bad! Only last week I murdered a rock, !njured a stone, hospitalized a brick! I'm so mean I make medicine sick!" - Muhammad Ali

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"I'm better now than I was when you saw that 22-years old undeveloped kid running from Sonny Liston. I'm experienced now, professional. Jaws been broke, been knocked down a couple of times, I'm bad! Been chopping trees. I done something new for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator. That's right. I have wrestled with an alligator. I done tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail. That's bad! Only last week I murdered a rock, !njured a stone, hospitalized a brick! I'm so mean I make medicine sick!" - Muhammad Ali

#boxing #MuhammadAli

"I'm better now than I was when you saw that 22-years old undeveloped kid running from Sonny Liston. I'm experienced now, professional. Jaws been broke, been knocked down a couple of times, I'm bad! Been chopping trees. I done something new for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator. That's right. I have wrestled with an alligator. I done tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail. That's bad! Only last week I murdered a rock, !njured a stone, hospitalized a brick! I'm so mean I make medicine sick!" - Muhammad Ali

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The 1970s belonged to Muhammad Ali.
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“Turning my back on Malcolm was one of the mistakes I regret most in my life. I wish I could tell Malcolm I was sorry, that he was right about so many things. But he was k!lled before I had the chance.

He was a visionary before all of us. Malcolm was the first to discover the truth, this color doesn't make you a devil. It is the heart, soul and spirit that define a person. Malcolm was a great thinker and an even greater friend. I might never have become a Muslim without Malcolm. If I could go back and do it again, I would never have turned my back on him. “

🗣 — Muhammad Ali

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Asked by TMZ Sports what it was like to protect one of the Greatest Fighters and Heavyweight Champions of All Time as a personal bodyguard, he recounted a great anecdote about how Ali used to use his celebrity status to stop street fights from breaking out in rough and tough Neighborhoods.

"I learned a lot of stuff from Muhammad Ali. The going back in to the hood, and stuff like that. We would go around in tough areas. He used to see guys arguing, gambling on the corner about to cut each other. He would say 'Heeeey!' The guys would stop fighting, they'd say 'It's the champ!' And he would say 'Break that up!' And Ali would stop stuff." Mr. T
Mr. Texplained that these encounters made a serious impact on him. He would go on to use the same tactic he learned from Ali once he gained his own stardom through starring roles in the A-Team and Rocky III.
"So I would go into the ghetto and I would see guys fighting. I'd say 'Hey man, don't be fighting.' [Puts on voice] 'Hey, that's Mr. T!' And then I'd talk to them a little bit. So a lot of the stuff I do I learned from Muhammad.

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