Muhammad Ali has a professional career record of 56 victories, 37 knockouts, and 5 defeats. The two lines above are undoubtedly the most renowned Muhammad Ali poetry, if not the most famous poem in sports history. Because this poetic epigram was altered for numerous battles, there are several variations. "As a poet, I enjoy it," Maya Angelou, probably America's most famous living poet, remarked of Ali's creative work. Suffer now so that you can enjoy the rest of your life like a champion. " Muhammad Ali, known as Cassius Clay at the time, takes a classic posture as he exits the ring, arms high, after defeating former heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida.