Muhammad Ali
Context
Muhammad Ali was the greatest professional boxer in human history. (Dude, Joe Louis ! – ed.).
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Background
- Original Name: Cassius Marcella Clay Jr..
- Other Aliases: Louisville Lip, The Greatest, The Black Superman.
- Known Relatives: Cassius Marcella Clay Sr. (father, deceased 1990), Odessa Lee O’Grady Clay (mother, deceased 1994), Rahman Ali (brother), Sonji Roi (wife, 1964-1966, divorced), Belinda Boyd (wife, 1967-1977, divorced), Maryum Ali (daughter), Jamillah Ali (daughter), Rasheda Ali (daughter), Robert Walsh (son-in-law), Biaggio Ali (grandson), Muhammad Ali Jr. (son), Khalia Ali (daughter), Miya Ali (daughter), Veronica Porche (wife, 1977-1986, divorced), Han Ali (daughter), Laila Ali (daughter), Yolanda “Lonnie” Williams (wife, 1986-2016), Assad Amin (adopted son).
- Group Affiliation: Boxing Community.
- Base of Operations: Louisville, KY.
- Height: 6’3″ (1.90m). Weight: 236 lbs. (107 Kg.).
- Eyes: Brown. Hair: Black.
Powers & Abilities
Muhammad Ali was, in his prime, a supremely skilled boxer and orator.
History
Cassius Clay was first suggested to learn boxing by police officer Joe E. Martin after threatening a bicycle thief.
At first he wasn’t interested, but after seeing Tomorrow’s Champions on TV, he began learning from Fred Stoner.
After a split decision victory over Ronnie O’Keefe in his first bout, Clay amassed a 100-5 record in his amateur career. This included winning:
- Six Kentucky Golden Gloves.
- Two national Golden Gloves.
- A Gold Medal in the 1960 Olympics.
1960s
Clay’s first professional bout was a six round decision victory over Tunney Hunsaker in 1960. By 1963 he’d amassed a 19-0 professional record and was set to challenge Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title. Liston dislocated his left arm in round six, leaving Clay victorious by TKO.
Clay converted to Islam shortly thereafter. He assumed the new name of Muhammad Ali.
Ali’s career was severely disrupted when he was drafted in 1966 for the Vietnam War. Ali refused, so he was forbidden by the law from fighting until 1970.
1970s
Ali’s first professional defeat was by Joe Frazier in 1971.
In 1974, during the much-celebrated “Rumble In The Jungle” boxing match in DR Congo, Mr. Ali defeated reigning champ Mr. Foreman using his “rope-a-dope” secret strategy.
Ali continued his distinguished career until a defeat in 1978 by Leon Spinks. After winning a rematch against Spinks, he announced his retirement.
However, Mr. Ali went in for one more fight against Larry Holmes. The resulting massacre of Ali was the true end of his boxing career.
After he was out of boxing, Muhammad Ali had an extensive career in entertainment, philanthropy, and political activism. That included several television appearances, a spoken word album, a cover of Stand By Me, and was one early influence on rap music.
1980s and beyond
After a 1984 diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, Ali continued in the public eye as much as the disease allowed.
That included working with Michael J. Fox to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research.
Muhammad Ali died on June 3, 2016 of septic shock. He is buried in his native Louisville.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Description
Muhammad Ali was a highly athletic Black man.
He usually dressed in formal suits when not in the ring. When fighting, he usually wore equipment adorned with the Everlast logo.
Personality
Muhammad Ali was a highly bombastic man who loved to boast of his prowess, frequently poetically.
After his athletic retirement, he focused on his new work with a more subdued tone.
Video
A fan montage showing Ali’s distinctive footwork, agility and space control tactics.
Quotes
“Eat your words ! I am the greatest ! I shook up the world. I’m the prettiest thing that ever lived.”
“Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.”
“Float like a butterfly sting like a bee – his hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.”
“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”
“I hated every minute of it. But I said to myself, ‘Suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion’.”
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”
“My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what ? They never called me n****r, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father… Shoot them for what ? How can I shoot them poor people ? Just take me to jail.”
DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
At the behest of a group of aliens, Muhammad Ali fought against Superman under a red sun, with the erstwhile Man of Steel powerless. Ali knocked out the Last Son of Krypton in the second round, then went in against a warrior named Hun’Ya and defeated him as well.
Ali’s rope-a-dope stratagem was used by Hal Jordan against Guy Gardner with their Green Lantern Corps membership on the line.
Clayface (Cassius Payne) was named by his mom and dad in honour of Mr. Ali, as a “Cassius Clay” pun.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Muhammad Ali
A 840 points Character.
| Dex: 07 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 |
| Int: 07 | Wil: 05 | Min: 06 |
| Inf: 08 | Aur: 08 | Spi: 07 |
| Init: 026 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Acrobatics (Dodging)*: 07, Artist (Dancer, Musician, Writer)*: 08, Charisma (Intimidation)*: 08, Martial Artist*: 07
Advantages:
Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Lightning Reflexes, Popularity, Scholar (“Sweet Science” (Boxing)), Sharp Eye.
Connections:
Boxing Community (High).
Drawbacks:
Forced Exile (1967-1970, for draft refusal), Married, Mistrust (during exile), Public Identity, MPI (Dyslexia).
Motivation:
Seeking Justice.
Occupation:
Boxer.
Wealth:
015
Source of Character: Wikipedia.
Helper(s): Rex Smith, Ethan Roe.
Writeup completed on the 20th of August, 2019