Throughout history there have been many influential people who have lived in this country. Some were politicians, some were actors and some were even athletes. One of these men was a talented boxer named Muhammad Ali. He established himself as an amateur, then as a professional. “The Greatest” was Ali's self-proclaimed nickname, but so many people agreed that it stuck. He went through trials and tribulations in his life, which makes him a historical icon. Muhammad Ali is known for being "the greatest" boxer of all time, but unlike other athletes he is remembered for his actions outside the ring and his athletic achievements. Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Mercellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. Cassio lived with his father, Cassio Sr., his mother, Odessa, and later with his younger brother Rudy. He was a rambunctious child, who demonstrated his boxing skills at the age of one, when he was spanked causing his mother's front teeth to fall out (Conklin 19). The Clays were a close-knit family who lived in a small house purchased by Cassius Sr. They were better off than many other southern blacks at the time. They would have been considered middle class by today's standards (Conklin 20). One day, Clay's bicycle was stolen while he was watching a show at the Columbia Auditorium. He went to report the theft of his bicycle to a policeman named Joe Martin. Joe Martin ran a boxing gym, so when Clay went to report the incident he saw the fighters in the gym and later said, "A feeling of awe came over me... I was so excited I forgot about my bicycle." Now Clay had discovered boxing. Clay trained at Martin's gym for eight years. During his amateur career, he fought one hundred and eight fights and lost only eight of them... in the middle of the paper... Muhammad Ali wrote The Fight for Respect. His attitude towards Ali seemed to be one of admiration. He liked Ali and believed that Ali was truly "The Greatest". The reason he wrote this biography is because he believed people should know about this extraordinary man. Ali was and still is "The Greatest". Not just because of his superior skills in the ring, but because he is a great man. Ali was not only successful in boxing, but also in life. He also did what so many people forget to do when they become rich and famous; he has not forgotten the people. He always plays with the kids and signs autographs. His legacy lives on with his daughter who is now a professional boxer. His legacy will always be remembered with two words: “THE GREATEST.” Works Cited Conklin, Thomas. Muhammad Ali The fight for respect. Connecticut: Brookfield, 1992.