Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr, Muhammad Ali wowed the boxing world with his skills, his audacity and his daring moves.

The young Clay found his way into the sport at 12 years old after a thief had stolen his bicycle and a police officer told him to go and learn the sport so he can “whup” the thief next time.

At the age of 18, Clay went on to claim his first major truimph at the 1960 Olympics when he won the light heavyweight gold medal.

At age 22, he shook the world when he beat Sonny Liston to win the world heavyweight championship in 1964.

Shortly after that bout, Clay joined Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Between February 25, 1964 and September 19, 1964 Muhammad Ali reigned as the ‘undisputed heavyweight boxing champion’.

His career defining bouts include fights with Sonny Liston, three with arch-rival, Joe Frazier, and one with George Foreman, in which he regained titles he had been stripped of seven years earlier for refusing to be conscripted into the US Army.

In honour of The Greatest who passed away this morning, YNaija takes a walk down memory lane through 10 pictures to see how this three-time lineal world heavyweight champion entertained the world.

1. One of the most iconic and controversial moments of his career, Ali stood over Sonny Liston and shouted at him “get up and fight, sucker” after knocking out the former champion in the first round of their 1965 rematch.

 

2. He lands a punch on Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland during their gold medal bout at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Clay went on to beat Pietrzykowski 5-0 to win the light heavyweight gold medal.

 

3. Ali vs Floyd Patterson – former two-time heavyweight champion in November 1965 who the young champ defeated in the 12th round.

4.  Ali faced Cleveland Williams aka The Big Cat at the Houston Astrodome on November 14, 1966.  Ali knocked Williams out in the 3rd round to win the match.

 

5. Ali vs Argentine, Oscar Bonavena in Madison Square Garden in 1970. Ali went on to win the match by dropping Bonavena three times in the 15th and final round. This gave him another chance to reclaim his heavyweight title (which had been taken away from him after he refused to be conscripted into the US army) against Joe Frazier.

 

6. Ali vs Joe Frazier in ‘The Fight’ for the heavyweight title in Madison Square Garden, New York on March 8, 1971. This match handed The Greatest his first loss in 32 professional fights as he failed reclaim the title.

 

7. Ali vs Bob Foster in their 1972 fight at Stateline, Nevada. Ali won the bout in the eighth round.

 

8. Ali vs George Foreman in the fight dubbed the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in Zaire, January 1974 in Zaire.

Ali hit Foreman down with a five-punch combo in the eighth round, and the referee counted him out.

This victory made him the heavyweight champion of the world for the first time since he was stripped of his titles in 1967.

 

9. Ali vs Joe Frazier – who he was fighting the third time in the Thrilla in Manila bout in October 1975 in the Philippines.

It was said to be a match to die for as both boxers went pound for pound but Ali stood firm to win by TKO in the 15th round.

 

10. Ali vs Canadian, Trevor Berbick on Decemeber 11,1981 in Nassau, Bahamas.

Muhammad Ali lost the match to a ten-round decision, ending his illustrious career on the night.