Buzz
From wrestling alligators to battling whales, Muhammad Ali has captured lightning and imprisoned thunder. Recognized as one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century, Ali, a three-time heavyweight champion, faced opponents in the ring, fought against prejudice, challenged governments, and battled Parkinson’s disease, all while captivating the world with his poetic taunts. Discover some of the most fascinating and unusual tales about the self-proclaimed “Greatest,” the man who truly transformed the world.
10. A Stolen Bicycle Sparked His Journey to Greatness
Long before he could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, Muhammad Ali was a 12-year-old boy seeking justice.
In October 1954, Ali (then Cassius Clay) owned a cherished red Schwinn bicycle, a Christmas gift from his father. He intended to ride it to a local bazaar in Louisville, Kentucky. After enjoying the stalls and snacking on popcorn with a friend, Ali discovered his beloved bike had been stolen. Heartbroken and in tears, he sought out Joe Martin, a police officer who also trained boxers, at a nearby gym.
Ali explained his predicament to Martin, vowing to punish the thief. Martin, sizing up the young boy, advised, “You should learn how to fight first.” After assisting Ali with a police report, Martin gave him a gym application.
Just six weeks later, Ali triumphed in his debut fight on local television, defeating Ronny O’Keefe by a split decision. Under Martin’s guidance, Ali mastered boxing fundamentals, leading to six Kentucky Golden Glove titles, two national AAU championships, and a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Though Ali never recovered his bike, he might have thanked the thief for setting him on his legendary path.
9. He Had a Fear of Flying
As Ali prepared for the 1960 Rome Olympics, he faced a daunting challenge: flying. The 18-year-old, terrified of air travel, suggested traveling by boat instead. When his request was denied, Ali considered abandoning the Olympics, believing a gold medal wasn’t worth the risk of a plane crash.
Thankfully, coach Joe Martin convinced Ali to board the plane, though the young boxer sought extra reassurance. Before departure, Muhammad purchased a parachute and wore it throughout the flight to Italy. Some reports say he spent the journey in prayer, while others claim he distracted himself by boasting about his upcoming matches. Regardless, he arrived safely.
Despite this, Ali remained uneasy about flying. Upon returning to the U.S., he invested in a bus for future travels, reasoning that buses, unlike planes, don’t plummet 30,000 feet when they malfunction. It wasn’t until later in life that Ali claimed to conquer his fear, attributing his newfound confidence to his faith in Islam, believing Allah would protect him from a plane crash.
Despite his later claims, Ali’s daughter Maryum Ali recalled, “The only time I’ve ever seen my father truly frightened was during turbulence on a flight. His eyes would widen, and he’d desperately wish to be back on solid ground.”
8. He Never Threw Away His Gold Medal
Americans have a fondness for myths, but not all are true. George Washington never chopped down a cherry tree, Walt Disney wasn’t cryogenically preserved, and Muhammad Ali didn’t throw his Olympic medal into the Ohio River. Unlike the tales of Washington and Disney, this particular myth was perpetuated by Ali himself.
The tale of Ali’s medal begins with a factual account. He triumphed over Polish boxer Zbigniew Pietrzykowski to claim the Light Heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. Initially, Ali wore his medal proudly everywhere he went. However, he soon realized that his Olympic success didn’t shield him from racial discrimination.
One day, while wearing his medal, Ali entered a segregated restaurant and was told, “We don’t serve niggers here.” Though he reportedly quipped, “That’s okay, I don’t eat ‘em,” his sharp retort didn’t change the outcome—he was forced to leave. This incident marks the point where the story takes a fictional turn.
In his 1975 autobiography, Ali claimed he threw his medal into the Ohio River in frustration. However, he later confessed that he had simply lost it. “I don’t remember where I put that (medal),” he admitted to reporters. Decades later, during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Ali was presented with a replacement medal and had the honor of lighting the Olympic torch.
In 1975, Ali was a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI), an organization that promoted black empowerment and separatism, along with controversial beliefs about white people being created by an evil wizard. His autobiography, heavily influenced by NOI ideology, aimed to advance their agenda, even if it meant embellishing stories for dramatic effect.
Can Ali really be faulted for this? Growing up in the pre–Civil Rights Act South, he endured systemic racism and was treated as a second-class citizen. Even after his conversion to Islam, many journalists refused to call him “Muhammad Ali,” insisting on using his birth name, “Cassius Clay.” While the story of the medal was fabricated, it was rooted in the harsh realities he faced.
7. His Trainer Played Dirty
When discussing Muhammad Ali and cheating, most people recall his rivalry with Sonny Liston. Some claim Liston applied liniment to his gloves during their first fight, temporarily blinding Ali. Others suspect Liston, who had ties to the mob, intentionally lost their rematch. However, fewer are aware that Ali’s match against Henry Cooper also involved underhanded tactics—this time from Ali’s own team.
On June 18, 1963, at London’s Wembley Stadium, Ali faced a tough challenge. The crowd, including stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, watched as Cooper landed his famous ‘Enry’s ‘Ammer, a powerful left hook that sent Ali to the canvas. Ali later joked that the punch was so strong his “ancestors in Africa felt it.” Luckily for him, the round ended before he could be counted out.
What followed was highly suspicious. Ali was visibly dazed and unlikely to survive the next round. His trainer, Angelo Dundee, took drastic action by tearing Ali’s glove, claiming it was unusable. The referee ordered a replacement, giving Ali extra time to recover. The delay, combined with Dundee’s use of smelling salts—an illegal tactic under British boxing rules—revived Ali’s energy and focus.
When the fight resumed, a rejuvenated Ali inflicted a severe cut under Cooper’s eye, forcing the match to end. Despite the controversy, Cooper took the loss graciously, admitting his own trainer might have done the same in a similar situation.
6. Ali The Musician
While Muhammad Ali is celebrated for his boxing skills and poetic flair, few know about his hidden musical talent. In 1964, just before his iconic bout with Sonny Liston, Ali released an album with Columbia Records titled I Am the Greatest. The album primarily featured his famous poems, where he alternated between self-praise (“This is the legend of Cassius Clay / The most beautiful fighter in the world today”) and bold predictions of Liston’s defeat (“He can’t fight. I watched him shadowboxing. His shadow won in the first round!”).
But Ali didn’t stop at poetry. Toward the end of the album, he delivered a heartfelt rendition of Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me.” He also performed a quirky 1960s-style song called “The Gang’s All Here,” engaging listeners by asking cities worldwide if they supported him. (“Is London with me?” “Yeah!” “Is Paris with me?” “Yeah!”).
The album’s release was short-lived. Following Ali’s conversion to Islam and name change, Columbia Records swiftly pulled the album from stores, ending his brief singing career.
However, Ali’s musical journey didn’t end there. In 1976, he released “Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay,” a playful album aimed at teaching children about dental hygiene. Through songs like “Who Knocked the Crack in the Liberty Bell?”—answered with “Ali, Ali”—he combined entertainment with education. This time, Ali enlisted celebrity friends like Frank Sinatra, who played an evil ice cream man, and Howard Cosell, who performed “The Fight Song,” narrating Ali’s epic battle against Mr. Tooth Decay.
Unfortunately, Ali’s dental hygiene-themed album is now a rare find, but his version of “Stand By Me” remains accessible. However, it’s clear that Ali’s talents didn’t lie in becoming a pop sensation.
5. He Convinced a Jumper to Step Back from the Edge
In Los Angeles, 1981, a 21-year-old man stood on a ninth-floor fire escape, convinced the Viet Cong were after him and threatening to end his life. The situation was dire—police negotiators had failed, and the crowd below was urging him to jump. The scene could have ended tragically if not for Muhammad Ali’s timely intervention.
Ali, who happened to be nearby, rushed to the building after hearing about the crisis. Despite warnings from police that the man might be armed, Ali didn’t hesitate. He was determined to help, even if it meant putting himself at risk.
Ali positioned himself near the man, leaning out of a window to speak with him. The young man was stunned to see the legendary boxer. “It’s really you!” he exclaimed. For the next half-hour, Ali listened to the man’s struggles with his personal life and unemployment. “You’re my brother,” Ali reassured him. “I love you, and I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Ali persuaded the young man to unlock the fire escape door and guided him safely down to his Rolls-Royce limousine. He then took him to a hospital, vowing to help him turn his life around. “Saving a life means more to me than any world title,” Ali later remarked.
4. The Boxer vs. The Wrestler
Muhammad Ali’s career was marked by brutal battles. His epic trilogy with Joe Frazier reached its peak in the grueling “Thrilla in Manila.” In the “Rumble in the Jungle,” Ali endured eight rounds of punishment before delivering a knockout blow to George Foreman. His fight with Ken Norton saw him battle through 12 rounds with a broken jaw. While these moments define Ali’s legacy, his match against Antonio Inoki is one his fans prefer to forget.
The story began in 1975 when Ali met the head of the Japanese Amateur Wrestling Association. “Isn’t there an Asian fighter brave enough to face me?” Ali quipped. Antonio Inoki, a trailblazer in mixed martial arts who had defeated judo champion Wilhelm Ruska, stepped up to the challenge. Eager to add a boxer to his list of conquests, Inoki set the fight for June 26 at Tokyo’s Budokan arena.
However, upon arriving in Japan, things took a strange turn. Some accounts suggest the fight was rigged, with Ali expected to lose intentionally. When Ali discovered this, he refused to comply. Others believe Ali thought the match was a mere exhibition. Realizing Inoki’s seriousness, Ali began to have doubts about the encounter.
Fearing the worst, Ali’s team imposed strict rules for the match. Inoki was barred from tackling Ali, using his knees, or throwing him around the ring. He was also restricted from kicking unless one knee was on the mat. Unsurprisingly, Inoki wasn’t happy and chose to fight on his own terms. During the match, Inoki spent most of the time lying on his back, kicking at Ali whenever he approached. The result was a bout that was anything but thrilling.
The most dramatic moment occurred when Ali attempted to grab Inoki’s foot. Inoki flipped Ali and briefly sat on his face. Beyond that, the fight consisted of Inoki delivering sporadic kicks and Ali mocking his opponent. After 15 uneventful rounds and only six punches from Ali, the judges ruled it a draw.
The audience was furious. They hurled trash into the ring and demanded refunds. Despite the backlash, both fighters earned millions and eventually formed a strong friendship.
3. He Rescued Hostages from Iraq
In the early 1990s, Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait led to a tense standoff with the U.S. military. In a bid to deter retaliation, Hussein took thousands of hostages, including 700 Americans, intending to use them as human shields. Negotiations for their release were failing until Muhammad Ali intervened.
Despite his global fame, Ali was facing personal challenges. He had retired from boxing in 1981 after a disappointing loss to Trevor Berbick. In 1984, he revealed he was battling Parkinson’s disease. By 1990, the once quick-witted and agile athlete was visibly struggling, with trembling limbs and slurred speech. Yet, his fighting spirit remained intact. When he learned of the hostage crisis, he felt compelled to act. As the world’s most renowned Muslim, he believed he could influence a predominantly Islamic nation.
Upon arriving in Baghdad, Ali was escorted to Saddam’s palace, where he spent nearly an hour communicating with the dictator. Struggling with speech, Ali relied heavily on gestures to convey his message. Through a translator, he expressed, “I am here on a mission of peace. I am not a politician. I am an American and a Muslim.”
Ali persuaded Hussein that releasing the hostages would improve his global image. This approach resonated with others, including Antonio Inoki, who later traveled to Iraq to negotiate the release of Japanese hostages.
Ali stayed in Iraq for several days, visiting religious sites and engaging with locals, while awaiting Saddam’s fulfillment of their agreement. Despite running out of medication for his condition, Ali refused to leave until the hostages were freed. Eventually, Hussein released 15 American captives, all thanks to Ali’s efforts. It’s no wonder he’s hailed as the Greatest.
2. Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Many real-life personalities have appeared in Superman comics, including Orson Welles, Jerry Lewis, and John F. Kennedy. However, none of these encounters were as monumental as the clash between Superman and Muhammad Ali.
Crafted by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams, with the blessing of Ali’s spiritual guide Elijah Muhammad, “Superman vs. Muhammad Ali” debuted in 1978 as a groundbreaking comic. Its oversized cover showcased Superman and Ali battling in a ring surrounded by a star-studded audience. Among the crowd were icons like Lucille Ball, Kurt Vonnegut, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, and the Jackson 5, alongside cameos from Batman and Lex Luthor.
The reason for the fight? To protect Earth from an alien threat. When Rat’lar, Emperor of the Scrubb, arrives in Metropolis, he demands Earth’s champion defeat his fighter, Hun’Ya, or face planetary destruction. Both Superman and Ali step forward, prompting Rat’lar to pit them against each other, with the victor earning the right to battle Hun’Ya.
A fight between Superman and Ali would naturally be one-sided, as Ali, despite his strength, is no match for a superhuman. To level the playing field, they agree to fight on a planet near a red sun, stripping Superman of his powers. In return, Ali trains the Man of Steel in boxing. After a grueling match, Ali emerges victorious, securing his title as humanity’s champion.
The Scrubb, however, never intended to honor their agreement and plotted to invade Earth regardless. Anticipating this, Ali and Superman hatched a covert plan. While Ali faced Hun’Ya in the ring, his cornerman “Bundini” Brown infiltrated Rat’lar’s ship. In a dramatic reveal, Bundini unmasked as Superman, while Ali had been fighting a disguised ally. Superman defeated Rat’lar, Ali knocked out Hun’Ya, and the two heroes celebrated their victory, with Ali declaring, “We are the greatest!”
The story concludes with a twist that likely frustrated fans: Ali reveals he discovered Superman’s secret identity. Reportedly, this was a condition Ali insisted on before agreeing to the comic.
1. Ali The Magician
Even outside the ring, Ali had a knack for captivating audiences. With just a scarf or coin, he performed magic tricks that left spectators in awe. He could make silk handkerchiefs disappear, flip a key in his palm, restore a bitten quarter, and transform scarves into canes in an instant.
Ali’s most renowned illusion was his levitation act. Facing away from the audience, he would align his heels and seemingly rise several inches off the ground, defying gravity. Even David Copperfield praised it as a “classic” performance.
Ali never kept his audience guessing for long. Believing deception conflicted with his Islamic values, he always revealed the secrets behind his tricks. The vanishing scarf? Concealed in a fake thumb. The levitation? Achieved by balancing on the toes of his left foot—a feat equally astonishing.
Ali’s magic was more than entertainment; it demonstrated how easily perceptions could be deceived. After his performances, he often distributed Islamic literature, leaving his audience with both wonder and wisdom.
