muhammad ali Flashcards
1960s america, and ali’s place in it
period of change in race plus vietnam
ali
- defied legal system and government
- fight for freedom
- conscientiously objected to vietnam war
embranced muslim/nation of islam
- polarizing to black and white
3x heavyweight champ of the world
what happened when ali objected
stripped of 1964 heavyweight champion title
banned from 1967-1970, prime years
sonny liston
was defending champ
- public thought ali would lose
liston used a substance on gloves
- ali beat him for 1964 heavyweight champ title
1965 rematch controversial bcs rumours liston took a dive
ali and parkinson’s
ppl believed he wouldn’t be able to contribute to society
he defied this
pres jimmy carter
1980s, sent ali to africa to get support for US boycott of moscow olympics
- bcs invasion of afghanistan
also US boycott of soviet tech and goods
carter’s decision polarized african politicians, bcs ali was an athlete not a politician
- lack respect
why was reception to ali in africa bad
bcs US didn’t help black nations against south africa in apartheid
all media coverage was flawed
- any envoy would have -ve reception
diplomatic reports show ali performed well
what happened to ali after visiting africa
wanted post-boxing career as diplomatic envoy
believed could never happen bcs neg media
- lingering controversy abt vietnam
returned to ring, irreparable damage
1990
ali went to baghdad, iraq and negotiated release of US hostages from saddam hussein
symbol for racial harmony
controversial –> celebrated figure w message of peace
cassius clay to cassius x
elijah muhammad = leader nation of islam
- cassius clay –> cassius x
malcolm x = primary speaker for nation of islam
attempts to suppress his involvement before became heavyweight champ
cassius x to muhammad ali
elijah muhammad paranoid that malcolm x leadership threat
cassius x forced to pick side —> muhammad ali
feared violence
after, malcolm x assassinated
1996 atlanta
ali lit olympic flame, was suffering from parkinson’s
billy payne
president of athlanta organizing committee
why was ali selected for atlanta
- gold medalist in rome 1960
- promoted peace, not war during vietnam/olympic values
- by 1990s, global icon
- olympics abt facing challenge – parkinson’s
- jesse owens died before atlanta
his first comeback fight in 1970 was in atlanta
who was his manager
angelo dundee
manager and cornerman
let ali be ali, didn’t restrain media interactions
joe frazier
fought him 3x, was heavyweight champ and ali’s first loss in 1971
1974 fight of the century
1975
1976 the thrilla in manilla
george foreman
beat joe frazier and became heavyweight champ
1974 rumble in the jungle
howard cosell
monday night football commentator
defended ali when society berated him for vietnam
- close bond
defended tommie smith and john carlos when raised fists in mexico city olympics
