Clay discovered that his much-prized red and white Schwinn had been stolen.
Furious, Clay wanted to report the theft to the police.
Someone told him that there was a police officer in the gym located in the basement of the auditorium. He went to the gym where he found Joe Martin, a Louisville police officer who used the gym to teach kids how to box on his off-duty time.
Clay told Martin about his stolen bike and that he was going to beat up the thief when he found out who it was. Martin told the youngster that he had better learn to fight before taking anyone on.
Clay joined Martin's boxing class and, although neither of them knew it at the time, a legend was in the making. Six weeks after joining the gym, Clay fought his first match. He won the 3-round bout in a split decision.
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Someone stole his bike so he went into a gym and yelled out "i going to beat up whoever stole my bike." Then a man came up and said you better learn to box first.
When Ali was 12 years old, he was being bullied. His mother encouraged him to take up boxing to learn to defend himself. He was a natural at it.