Natural elegance, relaxed confidence and all-time sharpness
Cassius Clay. Muhammad Ali. Irreverence, panache and pride. Or when the greatest figure of the noble art, a discipline basically consisting of knocking hard punches in the face of your opponent is anything but lightness, elegance and grace.
Cassius Clay was born on 17 January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. At age 12, the bike he received for his birthday got stolen at a local fair. Furious, the young Cassius swears to the police officer taking his complaint that he would "whup" whoever did this. That man happened to be Joe Martin, a local boxing trainer who suggests the kid to learn how to fight before whupping anyone. The next day, Cassius Clay puts the gloves on for the first time.
Beyond telling the story of how the greatest boxer of all times met his art, this anecdote perfectly synthesizes what will drive Muhammad Ali all his life.
Born in an hostile environment shaped by primal racism, Cassius Clay will constantly rise up against all forms of discrimination. Putting his own career at risk, he will later reject his enrollment in the US military in Vietnam while using his media exposure to fight for civil rights at home. A highly politicised figure and member of the Nation of Islam together with his mentor Malcolm X, one of Ali’s lifelong engagement was to put America in front of its slavery legacy and fight for the recognition of his African roots: "I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me."
Beyond his strong beliefs and boxing titles, what strikes in Ali is the way he fights. Always ironic, he has a playful arrogance and fierce determination. He plays with his opponents, challenge their certainties and mock them. His style is punchy and light, bright and explosive. His 1966 Cleveland fight against Cleveland Williams is the perfect illustration of this unreal lightness.
Before a microphone, his flow is fast, concise and powerful. His trash talk unique. He harasses his contender through brilliant metaphors and wins them over with a pinch. He’s above, period. Having said that, it would be easy to imagine a high-roller, extravagant and cocky man in the field of dressing. As you would imagine, it’s not the case.
Both to move away from the traditional cliché of the boxer dressing like a pimp (here and there, Joe Frazier) and to inspire respect to the younger generations, Ali would adopt an impeccable personal style made of classic and traditional clothes early on in his career. His suits are dark and slim, worn with narrow ties, Wayfarers sunglasses and crisp white shirts. The cuts are clean, the prints mastered and the colors used with parsimony and great taste.
In the training room, the same minimalist approach prevails. Colors are plain and simple. White and grey fleeces are fitted to the body for a total freedom of movement. It’s neat, clear and amazingly elegant. We would even forget about the initial purpose of these 60s training apparels confusing them with today’s luxury sportswear offering.
Ali’s personal style transcends clothes and illustrates the perfect harmony between substance and form. Becoming a mere support to his natural elegance, his clothes are always impeccable and neat and bring the perfect foundation for the relaxed confidence he showcased everywhere from boxing rings to press conferences and television sets.
"One of the greatest man ever born" for some.
Nothing less.
