About Ali
Muhammad Ali originally Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1960, Clay became the Olympic light-heavyweight champion. He was then sponsored by a group of wealthy Louisville businessmen. Clay began his journey to prove to the world that he was the greatest. In 1964, Clay won the world heavyweight title by defeating Sonny Liston, after Liston refused to get up from his corner at the end of the sixth round.
Shortly after that fight, Clay adopted the name Muhammad Ali. In 1967, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the United States Army. This decision was made at a time when the U.S. was at war with Vietnam. Ali stated that going to war was against his religious beliefs. Because of Ali's decision to not step forward during the draft induction, he was stripped of his title and barred from the ring for three-and-a-half years. At the time, many people called him traitor, draft-dodger and much worse. However, Ali's action to stand up against an unpopular war earned him tremendous respect and admiration, especially from college students across the U.S. who opposed the war. Ali was not happy that he was stripped of his boxing title and believed it was wrong. So he decided to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although many people thought it would never happen, Ali won the case and the Supreme Court reversed his conviction for refusing induction by unanimoius decision in Clay v. United States. Ali had his boxing licence restored.
In 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Ali fought Joe Frazier in the fight, known as "The Fight of the Century." This was one of the most anticipated fights in boxing history. Ali was attempting to regain his title that he lost due to being banned from boxing, but Ali was beaten. This did not stop or alter Ali's determination and commitment to recapture the title. In 1974, Ali again fought Joe Frazier and this time Ali won. Ali then went on to meet George Foreman (yes kids this is the same George Foreman with the grills) in Kinshasa, Zaire in the fight, known as "The Rumble in the Jungle". Ali used his famous rope-a-dope style (Ali's tactic of leaning on the ropes, covering up, and absorbing body shots) to knock-out George in the eighth round to regain his title. After regaining the title for the second time, Ali was beaten by Leon Spinks in a split decision in 1978. Ali and Spinks fought again and this time, Ali regained the title becoming the first man to win the world heavyweight championship three times.
To this day, Ali continues to battle and fight, although not in the ring, but in this thing we call life. In 1983, Ali was diagnosed with "Parkinson's syndrome" this syndrome causes your physical abilities to slow down, slurs your speech and causes your hands to tremble uncontrollable. Despite these physical disabilities, Ali remains one the most beloved individuals in the world, everybody knows his name and face. To me Ali is more than just a boxer, he was a man who spoke for the voiceless and stood-up for his beliefs, he was a man with great dignity and loyalty, a man whose heart knew no boundaries when it came to giving, and a man who loved children regardless their color, race, or features. For these reasons, and many more, MUHAMMAD ALI will always be my hero.
Message for the Champ- Thank you, Champ, for inspiring this poor, skinny, Puerto Rican kid from the public housing projects to believe that he, too, can make a positive difference in the world, by simply expressing appreciation, love, and care for people of his race...the human race. -Felix Manuel Rodriguez (June 2008)
Illustration above by Noe Peralez
About Illustrator Noe Peralez
Noe was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley in Deep South Texas. A native of Weslaco, he presently resides in Mission, Texas, with his wife and three children. Noe paints in oils for all of his canvas work, and utilizes quality illustration pencils for works that require distinct grey value ranges. The subjects he paints are varied, and reflect his interest in wildlife, sports themes, and political figures. The artist’s work caught the attention of K.O. Boxing magazine, a national sports publication. He was commissioned to paint their cover to help promote the Evander Holyfield / Lennox Lewis title fight (fall 1999 issue).
Most recently, he has been called upon to illustrate some of the classic bouts of the 40’s 50’s and 1960’s. Several of the artists non-sports work has sold through the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, TX, and prior gallery representation has included El Nuevo Santander Gallery in McAllen, TX. This is his first illustrated children's book.
About Illustrator Francis Philibert
Francis was born and raised in Waterbury, CT. He graduated from Paier College of Art in 1965. He studied with Dean Keller Sr., Ken Davies, John Massimino, Don Petro, Herbert Gut'z, Leo Stroutsenberger, Joseph Funaro, and Rudolph Salinger.
Francis received a commission to paint a portrait of the new Pope Benedict the Sixteenth. This portrait is hanging permanently at Papal Nuncio residence in Manhattan, New York.
He is a member of the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artist, Portrait Society of America, Lyme Art Association, and Scan Art Association. This is his second illustrated book.
Visit his website: www.francisphilibert.com