Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Shortly after winning the Olympic gold medal for light heavyweight boxing, Ali was refused service at a small-town diner due to his race. He left the diner, walked across a bridge, and flung his gold medal into the body of water the bridge crossed. What was the body of water he threw the medal into?
2. Muhammed Ali has (almost surely) signed more autographs than any other human being in history. He never turns down an autograph request because, when he was a boy, one of his boxing heroes refused to sign one for him. What was the name of the boxer who wouldn't sign an autograph for him?
3. After joining the Nation of Islam (the Black Muslims) he changed his name, but not to Muhammed Ali (this name was weeks later given to him by Elijah Mohammed). What did Cassius Clay initially change his name to?
4. Showing his usual flamboyance, when a reporter asked him to describe his place in the boxing world, what did Ali claim to be?
5. When Elijah Mohammed gave Cassius Clay the name Muhammed Ali, it was because he would be a messenger of the Islamic faith. This would later be used as Ali's argument against being drafted. What was Ali's 'official title' in the Nation of Islam?
6. When Ali was initially tested by the draft board, he was assigned the draft classification '1Y' (ineligible to serve). Why did Ali receive this classification?
7. Once Ali had been drafted and refused to take the symbolic step forward to be inducted into the Armed forces, he was stripped of the heavyweight title. How long did it take for the governing bodies to declare the title vacant?
8. Ali did not talk to reporters after the induction refusal, instead releasing a statement to the press. In part it read: 'I strongly object to the fact that so many newspapers have given the American public and the world the impression that I have only two alternatives in taking this stand: either I go to jail or go to the Army. There is another alternative, and that alternative is _________.
9. In 1969 there was turmoil in the Heavyweight Division, with both Joe Frazier and Jimmy Ellis recognized by different governing bodies as the champion. Due to these problems, many fans now considered the heavyweight division to be a farce. When asked at this time by a reporter if he missed boxing, what was Ali's reply?
10. When asked (at a speaking engagement in 1970) by a young black man how to deal with white racists, Ali replied: 'Be loud, be ______ and keep their black-hatin' asses in their chairs!'?
11. During a promotional tour of Elijah Mohammed's book 'Message to the Blackman', Ali gave an infamous speech claiming all things good were made white. From that speech, complete the following phrase: 'The Angel food cake is the white cake, but the Devil food cake is the _______ _______.'
12. Ali's conviction for draft evasion was overturned in June 1971 by the Supreme Court. What was the court's vote in giving Ali his freedom?
13. During his exile from boxing, Ali introduced a chain of fast-food restaurants. What was the name of this chain?
14. After his retirement from boxing, Ali formed a corporation which, among other things, has many humanitarian causes. What is the name of this corporation?
15. Ali was sent to Iran in 1980 by the United Nations to try to negotiate the release of the American hostages there. What is the official designation of Ali's postion with the U.N.?
16. Complete this quote from Ali in 1991: 'Any man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 30 ....'
17. What was the name of Ali's 1998 non-fiction book?
18. In a National Geographic Society International Essay in 1998, Ali wrote: 'I am devoting much of my life today to healing the ...'
19. In May 2000 Congress passed the Muhammed Ali Boxing Reform Act, which among other things, does what?
20. What year was Muhammed Ali inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame?
Source: Author
Misregistered
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
