Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 when he joined the Nation of Islam. Muhammad Ali got into boxing at the age of twelve when he went to report his stolen bicycle to police officer Joe Martin, also a boxing trainer. Ali said he wanted to beat up the guy who stole his bike. Joe Martin told him he should learn to fight first. Ali started working out at Joe's gym a few days later. Ali took his training seriously. He had created a very strict exercise regime and diet. Even early in his career, Ali boxed like no other. He won his first fight in 1954 and won the Golden Gloves tournament for lightweight, then won the national Golden Gloves tournament. His boxing prowess and success earned him a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1960. Ali's boxing style was completely unique. He didn't dodge the punches, he just stepped back to avoid them. He also did not keep his hands raised to block his face, but kept them....