Muhammad Ali Facts

      "I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round. "
                  Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after joining Nation of Islam.

 "Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn't choose it and I don't want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name - it means beloved of God - and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me.  "

By refusing to respond to this name, Ali's personal life was filled with controversy. Ali was essentially banned from fighting in the United States and forced to accept bouts abroad for most of 1966.

His Nicknames included: The Greatest, The Champ, The Louisville Lip or just 'Ali'

Muhammad Ali has been married four times and has seven daughters and two sons.

His height is 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)

Muhammad Ali won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

In his autobiography, Ali states that he threw his Olympic gold medal into the Ohio River after being refused service at a 'whites-only' restaurant, and fighting with a white gang

Ali developed Parkinson's disease due to the injuries he sustained throughout his career.

Ali became famous for his pre-match interviews where he would 'trash talk his rivals talking in rhymes explaining how he would win.

 In 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC.

When Clay beat Liston, he was the youngest boxer (age 22) ever to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion in 1965.

Religion Of Muhammad Ali

Ali converted to the Nation of Islam in 1965, under leader Elijah Muhammad.

Ali converted from the Nation of Islam in 1975.

In 2005, he embraces spiritual practises of Sufism - a mystical branch of Islam

Vietnam War

1966: "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me nigger."

In 1967 Ali was arrested for draft evasion charges - he refused to fight in the Vietnam War.

Although he avoided jail he was not allowed to fight for four years.

Boxing Career

    His boxing record Total fights 61

    Wins 56

    Wins by KO 37

    Losses 5

Angelo Dundee traveled around the world with Ali, and he was the cornerman in all but two of Ali's fights (Tunney Hunsaker in 1960 and Jimmy Ellis in 1971). In 1997, after decades Dundee reunited with Muhammad Ali and appeared alongside him in a sentimental Super Bowl commercial. 

 One of his most famous sayings was: "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" - it referred to his unorthodox style of fighting

Fight of the Century. After being unable to box because of his conviction of draft dodging, Ali was finally able to meet the reigning heavyweight champion and Frazier in the ring on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden. The fight was known as '"The Fight of the Century," Ali lost his first professional fight of his career.

Rumble in the Jungle Ali regained his title on October 30, 1974 by defeating champion George Foreman in their bout in Kinshasa, Zaire. It was one of the greatest sporting upsets in boxing. Ali outdanced the tiring Foreman to knock him out in the 8th round.

Ali was named "Fighter of the Year" by Ring Magazine more times than any other fighter, and was involved in more Ring Magazine "Fight of the Year" bouts than any other fighter.

After Boxing

According to the Muhammad Ali Center website, "Since he retired from boxing, Ali has devoted himself to humanitarian endeavors around the globe. It is estimated that he has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry. Ali travels, on average, more than 200 days per year."

 Daughter Laila Ali also became a boxer in 1999

Muhammad Ali currently lives on a small farm near Berrien Springs, Michigan with his fourth wife, Yolanda 'Lonnie' Ali.

On November 19, 2005 (Ali's 19th wedding anniversary), the $60 million non-profit Muhammad Ali Center opened in downtown Louisville.