About this Event
Miami Athletic Association celebrates Cassius Clay's metamorphosis to become The Greatest right here in Miami.
American X History's Tour of Miami starts with a 6:30am tour of The Historic Hampton House Inn then follows Clay's footsteps through beautiful Brownsville's lovely oak tree shaded residential neighborhood, then colorful Wynwood, across Biscayne Bay's waterview Venetian Causeway and finally to the Miami Beach Convention Center where Clay beat Sonny Liston to earn his 1st Pro Title.
Winter 1964: Olympic Boxing Champion Cassius Clay challenged professional Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Florida a vacation town operating under that era's Jim Crow segregation laws. This American sports hero wasn't even welcome to stay overnight in the tropical island's hotels. For decades Black tourists traveling the Southern United States followed a "Green Book" guide that provided safe places where they were welcome to patronize without threat from the law nor neighbors.
Miami's Hampton House Inn welcomed everybody, including Clay while he trained several weeks at Angelo Dundee's 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach. Clay often ran almost 10-miles from the Hotel to his Boxing Gym; part of his training, but quite the commute, huh?
Upon taking Sonny Liston's world heavyweight title, Clay publicly announced his conversion to Islam and that he no longer would accept his family's slavemaster name. Temporarily known as Cassius X, like his mentor Malcolm X; days later The Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad bestowed his name Muhammad Ali upon him.
Convention Center Drive was renamed Muhammad Ali Way to honor the Champ who actually lived in Miami for a decade; even establishing his Champ Burger Restaurant in Brownsville.
Miami Athletic Association asks donations to cover costs of our event + raise funds for The Historic Hampton House which is now a refurbished Green Book hotel that's been renovated as an Historic Museum: 4240 SW 27th Street Miami, FL
DM, call or email for instructions on providing a donation to off-set our bus transportation costs and keep this annual community event complimentary for all: [email protected].
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, United States