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Muhammad Ali Influence

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As Muhammad Ali once stated, “Don’t count the days; make the days count” (“Boxing in the 1960s.”). Looking back on his life, that is exactly what he did throughout his life. During his lifetime, he impacted many and also made countless statements that still ring true today. His impact on the outlook of the Vietnam War was influential for many, and it motivated others to push for civil rights like he did. A lot of fellow activists approved of his actions, while others were very against what he believed in. Clearly, Muhammad Ali, otherwise known as Cassius Clay, was a controversial topic during the Vietnam War.
Muhammad Ali, born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, was originally given the name Cassius Clay by his parents. When he was …show more content…

Although his extreme fear of heights and flying almost prevented him from making it there, his trainer helped ease some of his stress and anxiety, making the trip possible ("Muhammad Ali." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). He entered as a light heavyweight boxer for the United States. Dominating all of his opponents leading up to the championship match, Clay was riding high. Soon after learning whom he would face in the final match, he knew that he would be the next gold medalist. With a runaway win, Cassius Clay triumphed in his defeat over Polish coffeehouse owner, Zbigniew Pietrzykowski (Gewen). As an 18-year-old, Cassius Clay was a gold-medalist in the 1960 Rome Olympics. After returning home, Clay signed contracts with ten different millionaire companies in Kentucky. The Louisville Sponsoring Group provided all of these companies to support Cassius Clay’s winning career. This company hired retired boxer, Archie Moore, to train him, but Clay did not approve of this and hired his own personal trainer and manager, Angelo Dundee. Over the next four years, he fought in nineteen professional fights and won them all ("Muhammad Ali." Notable Black American

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