Life and times of Muhammad Ali could be turned into a musical
The life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali is to be given a musical makeover, it has been reported.
Sporting great Ali died at 74 following an illustrious career in the ring during which he became a world heavyweight champion three times.
Producer David Sonenberg is reportedly looking to turn the life of Ali into a musical.
Sonenberg, who worked on Bat Out Of Hell, said: “We can’t wait to be doing it. We have no clue who will play Muhammad but it’s going to be great.”
Ali was born Cassius Clay on 14 January, 1962, and converted to Islam in the mid-1960s, prompting the name change.
As a child, Cassius Clay was first persuaded into his local boxing gym by a policeman, Joe Martin, who found the eight-year-old distraught and bent on revenge against a boy who had stolen his bicycle.
That policeman’s decision would lead to the discovery of a fighter who transcended the sport.
He won gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the heavyweight division and in 1964 stunned the seemingly invincible Sonny Liston at Miami Beach to win the world heavyweight title.
During his career, he fought race wars, was stripped of his world title for refusing to fight in the US war in Vietnam and lost his boxing licence for close to four years as a consequence.