On this Day, September 15, 1978, Muhammad Ali wins world heavyweight championship
On September 15, 1978, 'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time and set a new record. After the fight, he announced his retirement, but it didn't last long.
Ali fought 61 times during his professional boxing career, which lasted 21 years and 1 month. He won 56 and lost 5 of his fights.
Ali retired from boxing after his triumph, only to make a quick comeback two years later.
'The Greatest' reportedly boasted of his ability to "float like a butterfly" and "sting like a bee," and retired from boxing in 1981.
Today, we look back on the courageous life of Muhammad Ali.
When was Muhammad Ali born?
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Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr on January 14, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, the future world champion changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after converting to Islam per History.
Ali is considered one of the best boxers of all time. He reportedly moved to Rome, Italy at the age of 18 to compete in the 1960 Olympics.
How did Muhammad Ali die?
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Muhammad Ali died on June 3, 2016. According to his relatives, the boxer died of "septic shock due to unspecified natural causes."
He had suffered from a respiratory infection aggravated by Parkinson's disease and died in a Phoenix, Arizona, hospital, according to the BBC.
Leon Spinks vs Muhammad Ali
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Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks squared off in a professional boxing contest on September 15, 1978, at the Superdome in New Orleans.
It was their second game together and the WBA and The Ring heavyweight titles were on the line.
Ali prevailed in a 15th-round decision that was unanimous. 'The Greatest' was the winner after rounds-based scoring with scores of 11-4, 10-4-1, and 10-4-1, Sports Illustrated reports.
Ali became the first boxer to ever win the heavyweight world championship three times with this victory.
63,352 people attended the boxing event in the Superdome, which at the time was the biggest indoor crowd ever.
The main event was reportedly seen by an estimated 90 million people in the US, with 46.7 per cent of TVs in the country being turned in—a record at the time.
A record 2 billion people in the world were thought to have watched the battle.
Who knocked Muhammad Ali down in a fight?
Sonny Banks
Sonny Banks was reportedly the first person to knock Muhammad Ali to the ground in the first round of their 1962 fight.
It was only Ali's 11th fight in his professional career, and it was the main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The warning signs for Ali were there after he took a couple of good left hooks in the first minute, and it happened to be the punch that knocked him out.
Ali went on to knock out Banks in the fourth round, exactly as he expected.
Henry Cooper
Ali had been knocked out twice. This time, it was by British fighter Henry Cooper by the end of the fourth round in 1963.
Ali's careless demeanor left him vulnerable, and a stunning left hook caught him and hurled him into the ropes.
Ali was fortunate to land on the canvas with some cushioning from the ropes, and the bell soon afterward prevented Cooper from trying to complete the battle move.
The 'Greatest of All Time's history would have been very different if Cooper's left hook had come 30 seconds sooner.
However, Cassius TKO'd Cooper in the very next round, which was the fifth round, just as he had predicted he would do.
In his very next match, Ali defeated Sonny Liston to claim the heavyweight title in February 1964.
Joe Frazier
According to reports, Frazier dropped Ali in the final round of their fight in March 1971 with a stunning left hook. Ali was up and moving again in three seconds.
Ali nonetheless suffered his first career setback when he was defeated by a unanimous vote.
Chuck Wepner
Chuck Wepner is one of the few fighters that have knocked Ali out in 1975.
Wepner jumped on Ali's foot in the ninth round and hit a nice right punch to the body, causing Ali to slump back and onto the floor.
Ali then knocked out Wepner in the 15th and final round, knocking him down three times.
What made Muhammad Ali strong?
Muhammad Ali was well-known for his general athleticism, which included his speed, agility, footwork, and balance.
Ali's mental stamina was just as important to his success as his physical skill.
Ali was the first to break the mold for the modern athlete. Since then, no athlete has been as outstanding in as numerous arenas.
Ali became the first boxer to win three consecutive championships in the era when there was only one heavyweight world champion at the time. He took on everyone and defeated nearly everyone, per BBC.
Was Ali scared of Mike Tyson?
Muhammad Ali allegedly acknowledged to boxing legend George Foreman that he didn't think he could defeat Mike Tyson in his prime in a boxing dream fight, per The Sun.
Ali informed Foreman that he didn't have the confidence to defeat Mike Tyson because he felt Tyson punched harder than everyone else he had ever faced.
Ali, who was notorious for his brutality, though, quipped in an interview that he was afraid of Mike Tyson.
What does 'float like a butterfly, sting like a bee mean?'
Muhammad Ali popularized the expression "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" to describe the way he battled.
The phrase's reference to Ali's ability to "float like a butterfly" alludes to his dexterity and quick footwork, which allowed him to maneuver around his opponents in the ring. This made it challenging for his adversaries to punch him.
The phrase's "sting like a bee" reference alludes to Ali's devastating blows. Ali was able to throw punches with tremendous physical strength and power despite his stunning mobility.
In a more general sense, this expression can also be used to describe someone who moves with elegance and agility while yet possessing immense power
It can also be used to describe someone who appears to be kind yet lashes out in a heated disagreement, per Urban Dictionary.
When did Muhammad Ali retire?
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Ali announced his retirement from fighting in June 1979. He entered the ring one more on October 2, 1980, but heavyweight champion Larry Holmes knocked him in the eleventh round.
Ali retired from boxing on December 11, 1981, after losing to Trevor Berbick. He reportedly finished his career with a record of 56 wins, 5 losses, and 37 knockouts.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984. The brave fighter died on June 3, 2016.