Bold, brash, and nicknamed “The Louisville Lip” in his early days, boxing’s only 3-time Lineal Heavyweight Champion of the World Muhammad Ali (56-5-0, 37KO) certainly had the stones to back up his words, and he did it all in style.

As flashy as he was, it was the substance that superseded the flash, inside and outside of the ring, as he was a man that was 🚩deep-rooted in his principles, standing up for his beliefs, while never wavering from his position, no matter the obstacles that stood in front of him, whether it came in multiple forms of injustices, or the menacing foes that was cast in front of him.

His dedication to his beliefs were most on display when he refused to get drafted in 1966, and (at the time, which lasted 3 ½ years), sacrificing his career to stand on his laurels, which gave a true window into what it was that he stood for as an African American man unwilling to partake in damage against a contingent he had no quarrels with, compared to the racial tensions being felt at home by his own on American soil.

Philanthropist, activist, icon, and an innovator, Ali’s presence redefined the athlete, American and worldwide, as he brought an extra flare to his profession, and his influence spawned off new generations of athletes looking to enact his blueprint, and follow in his footsteps. Ali was born 79 years ago on January 17th, 1942. It has been 5 years since his passing on…the body goes, but hero’s never die, as their legacy lives on.

ALI’S LEGENDARY ACCOMPLISHMENT LIST

1960 Rome Olympics Light-Heavyweight Gold-Medalist

The Only 3-Time Lineal Heavyweight World Champion (Record)

1st Heavyweight to Come Out of Retirement to Regain Lineal Title

Amassed 19 Successful Lineal World Title Defenses

11 Wins Against Hall-of-Fame Inductees

(Record) 6-Time Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year (1963, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978)

(Record) 6-Time Ring Magazine Fight of the Year Participant

1963 Ring-Magazine Fight of the Year (Clay vs. Jones)

1964 Ring-Magazine Fight of the Year (Ali vs. Liston I)

1971 Ring-Magazine Fight of the Year (Ali vs. Frazier I)

1974 Ring-Magazine Fight of the Year (Ali vs. Foreman)

1975 Ring-Magazine Fight of the Year (Ali vs. Frazier III)

1978 Ring-Magazine Fight of the Year (Ali vs. Spinks I)

Compiled a 11-0 Record in Rematches During his Career

6 Victories Over 4 Olympic Gold-Medalists

Ring-Magazine Upset of the Year (over George Foreman)

Sports Illustrated Athlete of the 20th Century

Regarded by Many as the Greatest Heavyweight of All Time

Universally Recognized as One of the 2 Greatest Heavyweights

1960’s Ring-Magazine Fighter of the Decade

First-Ballot Hall of Fame Inductee (Inaugural Year 1990)

Defeated George Foreman, Joe Frazier (2X), Sonny Liston (2X), Floyd Patterson (2X), Ken Norton (2X), Archie Moore, Bob Foster, Leon Spinks, George Chuvalo (2X), Jerry Quarry (2X), Jimmy Ellis, Buster Mathis.