Happy Birthday Cassius Marcellus Clay

Muhammad Ali (born January 17, 1942) is a retired American boxer and three-time World Heavyweight Champion, who is widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight championship boxers of all time.

As an amateur, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. After turning professional, he went on to become the first boxer to win the lineal heavyweight championship three times.



Ali, Bumaye!

Kelly Pavlik Wins Decision Over Jermaine Taylor For The Second Time

Although you wouldn't know it from Kelly Pavlik's history of dynamite knockouts, patience is among the middleweight champion's greatest virtues.

Pavlik waited seven years for his first title shot against Jermain Taylor last year, and didn't waste it. In the rematch Saturday night, Pavlik persisted until the late rounds, when he finally landed the big punches that kept him perfect.

With a strong finish to a bout with more tactics than theatrics, the pride of Youngstown, Ohio, beat Taylor on Saturday night for the second time in 41/2 months, winning a unanimous decision.

For more of this AP Story Check out Sports Ilustrated.

Jones Jr. Beats Trinidad In War Of The Geriatrics

Roy Jones wins one-sided decision over Felix Trinidad

Roy Jones Jr. defiantly wore a gilded crown into a ring surrounded by hostile fans of a Puerto Rican hero. He then taunted Felix Trinidad, waggling his chin and shaking his rump, before rudely flooring Tito twice.

Some old guys just never learn how to behave --

yet the 39-year-old Jones showed he can still get down to business, pounding another iconic boxer whose prime is well past.

Jones pranced and punched his way to a unanimous victory over Trinidad on Saturday night, dominating their 170-pound bout. From the opening minutes to the increasingly lopsided final rounds, Jones simply was too fast, even in a fight that was several years too late.

Jones and the 35-year-old Trinidad might have put on the year's best fight -- if the year was still 2001, back when both were kings of the sport.

"I can't believe you stayed in there 12 rounds with me," Jones said to Trinidad after the fight. "People thought we were old."

Actually, they still do. The 1990s' most dominant boxer has reflexes that are fading, but not totally faded -- and more than enough to beat another declining dynamo. GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer has got more of this story.

Boxer Evander Holyfield Looks Good For A 44-Year-Old Black Man, But That's Not Enough To Win Heavyweight Title

Evander Holyfield’s quest for a fifth heavyweight title ends following loss to Sultan

The brother could have been a contender but alas, it was not meant to be. With the sparse crowd at Khodynka Arena chanting “Sultan! Sultan!” near the end of the bout, there were no knockdowns by the final bell, just a good-old fashion 12 round fight that saw Evander Holyfield come up short.

"He got the decision and I have to go back to the drawing board,” Holyfield said. “He’s a left-handed fighter, and moves a lot. I did the best that I could with the style that he had.”

This was Holyfield’s 23rd title bout in a 20-year heavyweight career. In title fights, he beat James “Buster” Douglas in 1990, Mike Tyson in 1996, Michael Moorer in 1997 and John Ruiz in 2000. Holyfield’s license to fight in New York was suspended after he was outpointed by Larry Donald in 2004 for his third consecutive defeat. But he underwent surgery on both shoulders and won four straight fights in 2006-07 in Texas to receive another chance when Chagaev withdrew after contracting hepatitis.

The fight began with both fighters feeling each other out, although Holyfield looked happy to tie up Ibragimov to offset his superior hand speed. It also appeared Holyfield accidentally butted Ibragimov’s nose. By the seventh round, Holyfield’s legs were buckling on him after he caught a punch on the chin. But he came back with a flurry of blows before Ibragimov landed a wild right hook to win the round easily. Ibragimov’s faster hands and feet kept him ahead on the scorecards. But his chin withstood an overhand right from Holyfield, and his compact, southpaw combinations helped him regain his poise.

A succession of left rips to the body staggered Holyfield in the 10th round and brought the crowd to its feet. Holyfield crumpled as Ibragimov chased him round the ring, snapping a couple of jabs to his face. But Holyfield recovered late in the round to land a left-right-left combination.

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LEAVE IT TO BLACK FIGHT PROMOTER DON KING TO GET TWO LATINO BOXERS THROWING PUNCHES... OUTSIDE THE RING!

AT 44, EVANDER HOLYFIELD BOXES HIMSELF BACK INTO THE GAME - GO ON BLACK MAN!

Holyfield defeats Savarese in 10 rounds

EL PASO, Texas—Evander Holyfield outworked and outclassed Lou Savarese on Saturday night, winning a 10-round unanimous decision to remain undefeated in his latest comeback.

Holyfield, the 44-year-old former heavyweight champion, started and ended the fight with a hard left to the head of the 41-year-old Savarese. In between, Holyfield was in control.

The judges scored it 98-90, 99-87 and 96-91.

Savarese, a former title contender himself, held his own for the first eight rounds before being knocked off his feet with a hard left to the chin.

Holyfield (42-8-2) knocked Savarese (46-7) to the mat again in the 10th, with Savarese looking as though he was hoping to just stay upright.

Holyfield came in weighing 219 pounds, giving Savarese a 23-pound advantage that wasn't all that tough to overcome.

"Lou hurt me with an upper cut (in the third)...but I got away from the next one," Holyfield said after the fight.

That was about the only stunning shot for Savarese, who himself had been on the comeback trail.

Holyfield said after a quick try at fighting the taller Savarese on the inside, he moved to the outside and did his best to land some quick, hard left jabs.

Savarese, looking swollen and battered, said that the fight was his last, "I gave it my all."

It was Holyfield's fourth bout since returning to boxing after a two-year layoff. His goal is to win an unprecedented fifth heavyweight title and unify the belts in the messy division before retiring for good.

Saturday's result was a big step toward possibly getting another crack at one of the many fighters holding a heavyweight championship belt.

For his part, Holyfield said he believes a title shot will be next. "I will be the five-time undisputed heavyweight champion of the world," Holyfield said.

Holyfield last held the undisputed championship after a 1990 win against James "Buster" Douglas.

Holyfield started his comeback in Texas last year. Despite his wins, Holyfield is just three years removed from losing his license to fight in New York, where boxing officials cited diminished skills shortly after losing an ugly 12-round decision Larry Donald.

Holyfield's professional career dates to 1984, and he's hoping to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever, surpassing George Foreman's record.

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL (AP)