The Story
He was blessed with muscles and speed and brains that come along once in a generation. Or maybe once in history.
But Muhammad Ali didn’t simply rely on what he was born with The man earned his belts. He didn’t just outfight his opponents in the ring. He outworked them outside of it. Ali never lifted weights. His body was naturally developed and sculpted from endless calisthenics. He worked hard. He ran. He sweat.
When training, he ran 4 to 5 miles everyday at 4a.m. Then calisthenics and situps. When the sun was highest in the sky, he went inside to the gym. Skipping rope, shadowboxing, heavy bag, speed bag, and hitting the mitts. Then the sparring would begin.
A man who loved to be among others, he was willing to do the solitary work that physical training demanded. Ali’s determination and discipline are inspiration for us all.
In his words: “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses. Behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road long before I dance under those lights.”
