Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist who was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942. He passed away on June 3, 2016. He was known as “The Greatest” and is sometimes cited as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He is recognised as one of the most important sports figures of the 20th century. He received the Sportsman of the Century award from Sports Illustrated and the BBC in 1999, respectively.
He was reared in Louisville, Kentucky, and started his amateur boxing training at the age of 12. He turned professional later that year after winning the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics at the age of 18. After 1961, he converted to Islam. On February 25, 1964, at the age of 22, he defeated Sonny Liston in a significant upset to win the world heavyweight title. He formally changed his name to Muhammad Ali during that year, calling his birth name a “slave name” and decrying it as such. Due to his religious convictions and moral objections to the Vietnam War, Ali refused to be conscripted into the military in 1966. As a result, he was found guilty of drug evasion and had his boxing titles taken away. He remained free while contesting the ruling before the Supreme Court, which reversed his conviction in 1971.
The boxing record of Muhammad Ali are as follows,
| Total Fights | 61 |
| Wins | 56 |
| Wins by KO | 37 |
| Losses | 5 |
We’ll talk about Muhammad Ali’s life and achievements in this article along with Career statistics and some interesting personal life information that you should know about,
Muhammad Ali Biography
Real Name: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
Nickname: The Greatest, The People’s Champion and The Louisville Lip
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Profession: American Professional Boxer
Nationality: American
Net Worth: $ 5 Million
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Professional Debut: 29 October 1960 against Tunney Hunsaker
Coach/ Mentor: Angelo Dundee, George Foreman and Ken Norton
Muhammad Ali’s Physical Status
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 107 kg
Body Measurements: Chest (44 inches), Waist (36 inches), Biceps (14 inches )
Build: Athletic
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Eye colour: Black
Hair colour: Black
Muhammad Ali’s Personal Life :
Date of Birth: January 17, 1942
Place of Birth: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
School: Louisville Central High School, Louisville
College: Not Known
Highest Educational Qualifications: Not Known
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Hobbies: Singing and Work Out
Muhammad Ali Family Life :
Mother’s Name: Odessa Grady Clay
Father’s Name: Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr.
Sibling’s Name: Rahman Ali
Marital Status: Married
Spouse Name : Lonnie Ali, Veronica Ali, Khalilah Ali, Sonji Roi
Children’s Name : Rasheda Ali, Assad Amin, Maryum Ali, Hana Ali, Miya Ali, Jamillah Ali, Khaliah Ali
Muhammad Ali Achievements
- Muhammad Ali won six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships between 1955 and 1960.
- Muhammad Ali won the light heavyweight Olympic title in 1960.
- Muhammad Ali was named the Heavyweight champion of the WBA three times (1964, 1974, and 1978)
- In 1965, 1974, and 1975, Muhammad Ali was named “BWAA Fighter of the Year” three times.
- In 1959 and 1960, claimed the Amateur Athletic Union Championships twice.
Here are some lesser-known facts about Muhammad Ali
- Clay reported the theft of his bike to the police. The 12-year-old joined the gym after the officer, a boxing trainer, suggested that he learn to fight. Clay won his first boxing battle six weeks later.
- 18-year-old Clay travelled to Rome in 1960 to compete for the United States in boxing. He earned the gold medal by outlasting every opponent. He was denied service at a diner in his native state while sporting his medal after returning to the United States because of his race.
- Ali cited religious objections in 1967 when he declined to enlist in the US military and participate in the Vietnam War. He was detained and had his title taken away. Additionally, the New York State Athletic Commission revoked his boxing license, he was found guilty of avoiding the draught, given a prison term, and ordered to pay a fine.
- Muhammad Ali was well-known for writing rhymes to use as a kind of boxing ring taunting. He liked iambic pentameter better. He recorded I Am the Greatest, a spoken word album, in 1963.
- Ali defeated numerous opponents throughout his career, including Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Jerry Quarry, and Joe Frazier. With every triumph, Ali’s reputation as the heavyweight champion grew and was further cemented. He scored 37 knockouts in his 56 bouts.
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