Muhammad Ali ( formerly known as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.)

Muhammad Ali would always keep fit for a fight (http://www.asama.org/images/artists/holland/MuhammadAli.jpg)

Muhammad Ali, he’s not just a boxer or the "greatest boxer in the world" as he calls himself, he is a person that is trying to stop racism. The reason why I chose him as a hero is because he is a great inspiration, he fights racism in the world and he is involved in many humanitarian groups. Ali was born with the name Cassius Clay in January 17, 1942 in the city of Louisville, Kentucky.

First of all, Mohammad Ali is a great inspiration because he tells people to never give up. If he lost a fight, he wouldn't just mope around or feel sorry for himself, he would strive to win the next fight. He was three-time world heavy weight boxing champion. If he did lose a fight, he would give the following quote "I never thought of losing but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life." Another reason as to why he's an inspiration is because he tries to get kids off the street with his boxing center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. All of this has led to having a street named after him: "Mohammed Ali Boulevard". Ali had beaten every boxer in his time and has influenced a lot of present day boxers to do so as well. Therefore, Muhammad Ali influences a lot of people to strive to be the best.

Ali always wanted respect and equality (http://www.finalcall.com/artman/uploads/muhammad-ali_01-30-2007b.jpg)

Ali's not just a boxer, he’s a person that wants to demolish racism in the world. In 1975, Ali says he threw his gold medal in the Ohio River after not being served at a “whites only” restaurant.

Muhammad Ali recieving a medal from Bill Clinton (http://www.citizensmedal.com/MuhammadAli_BillClinton.jpg)

Finally, it isn’t just racism that he’s trying to get rid off, he is trying to bring peace and prosperity to the world. In one of his quotes he said “ Service to others is the rent you pay for your house on earth.” In November of 2002, he was in Afghanistan as a “UN messenger of Peace” and spent three days in Kabul for a good will mission as a special guest for the UN. As well one of his friends had said “Since he retired from boxing, Ali has devoted himself to humanitarian endeavors around the globe. He is a devout Muslim, and travels the world over, lending his name and presence to hunger and poverty relief, supporting education efforts of all kinds, promoting adoption and encouraging people to respect and better understand one another. It is estimated that he has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry. Ali travels, on average, more than 200 days per year." Judging from this, he really is a good person.

A recent picture of Muhammad Ali

In conclusion, Ali is my hero because of his way of never giving up when the world's dragging you down, his fighting racism and how he helps the world out by providing meals for people living in poverty. He was a professional boxer and is now a man trying to make the world a better place for everybody.