First of all, Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942 and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He had a hard childhood. When he was twelve years old his bike was stolen. He rushed to a nearby police officer, and that is what started his boxing career. He had told the police officer what had happened but could not give a description of the man or women. The police officer asked him if he could box and he said “no.” The police officer told him to try. So he went home and started boxing.