Although his family had owned slaves, Clay became an abolitionist early in his life after hearing a speech by William Lloyd Garrison while at Yale in 1832. What we have here is a man who was the compromise-progressive on race of his day even if he was not all black people would have wanted. There isnt a mark on me. He was still hunting big game. Thats what I need. But it will be, and in the meantime Cassius could console himself with his $13,500 out of the purse and $10,000 from the 38-city telecast. Angry now, Cassius retaliated, exhausting his repertory in a flurry of incredibly swift punches that were enough to win him the round but not immortality. And he talked about getting a wheel and wheeling around that block.. The second was even, and in the third, his head clear now, Cassius took command. That Little Smart Aleck. Dreams came easy in Louisvilles West End. His name, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was otherwise known as Muhammad Ali. [2] His son Muhammad Ali described him as "the fanciest dancer in Louisville". The mobsters and their stable of dull pugs were driving the fans away. He married Odessa Lee O'Grady in 1934 and worked as a painter. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital But according to historian Anne Marshall, if we were to look back from now, we would have many faults to point out about Clay. Ill lick him easy. But he still got up at 5 a.m. every day to run at least two miles in Chickasaw Park, and he boxed a few fast training rounds with his younger brother Rudolph. Try again later. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Cassius Clay But even incrementalism was still not enough for the most ardent slavery defenders. But Cassius just laughs, and keeps on talking. Pete Rademacher, an ex-Olympic champion who was knocked out by Patterson in his pro debut, wanted to manage Clay. All Rights Reserved. When in 1964 Louisville-born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., converted to Islam, taking as his name Muhammad Ali, the 22-year-old heavyweight boxing champion was casting off a monicker made legendary by another flamboyant Kentucky fighter given to dramatic pronouncements.