By Selwyn Duke

A pugilist, humorist, and activist, Muhammad Ali (shown bottom right in 1964) was as controversial as he was colorful. Quick-witted, footed, and fisted, he entertained audiences in and out of the ring, pummeling opponents until he was finally pummeled by Parkinson’s, the disease that ended his boxing career and, finally, his life on June 3. Ali was 74.

Born January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, and named Cassius Clay, the future heavyweight champ began boxing at age 12 after his new bicycle was stolen. Teary-eyed, he found policeman Joe Martin and exclaimed, “If I find the kid who stole my bike, I’ll whup him!” Clay never found the kid, and Martin never found the bike, but the officer did invite young Cassius to join a boxing gym he ran — and the rest is history.

And Clay would make history; whether or not he really was “the greatest” boxer ever, as he branded himself, he certainly was the loudest and most loquacious one.

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