Current owner: LONNIE & KEVIN ROSS
4610 NW 15 CT MIAMI, FL 33142-4117
Assessed value in 2016: $55,630
Year built: 1958
Ali lived at the residence in the early days of his career. "This area right here, he had the speed bag put up and he used to stand in front of the window and train with the speed bag," Ross said while on a tour of the house.
When Ali was residing in this house; he won the Heavyweight Championship in Miami, he also converted to Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.
On February 25, 1964, underdog Cassius Clay, age 22, defeats champion Sonny Liston in a technical knockout to win the world heavyweight boxing crown. The highly anticipated match took place in Miami Beach, Florida
The biggest names and fighters paraded through this magical gym known as 5th St Gym; Ali, Basilio, Griffilth, Arche Moore, Willie Pep, Sonny Liston, Roberto Duran. The list is infinite../
However where would Cassius Clay spent the night? At the Fountain Bleu and Eden Roc? No way!
Black or dark skin human beings were not allowed to sleep in Miami Beach! They needed a passs after 6:00 pm 🔄
In the mid-1960s, Brownsville was an area in Dade County where Black Athletes and artists were allowed to stay!
African-Americans were not allowed to live in Miami Beach, in the early 1960's. Black tourists, athletes, singers or artists weren’t even allowed to stay in hotels on the Beach, but, ironically, the hotels would book black entertainers to amuse their all-white guests. Even Diana Ross and the Supremes were required to stay the night in Overtown. That's why Muhammad Ali had a house in Brownsville, Liberty City area.-
That's why Ali was staying in this house!
- Films about the boxing legend were filmed at the house. The first film was "The Greatest" in 1977. "I was probably 5 or 6 years old and I could still remember all the camera crews," Ross said. "People setting up in our backyard and he was walking all around and just a normal day."
- The second film to be recorded at the residence was "Ali" in 2001. "They actually re-did the whole thing to look like the 60s," Ross said. "Will Smith, Jamie Foxx - all them, they were all here sitting in this room."
Credits:
Yves Renaud 5th street gym website Miami Herald