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Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942. His father, Cassius Sr., painted signs and his mother Odessa worked as a domestic. [In 1964, he changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam.]

A Poor Student With Quick Mind

Learns To Box ...

So He Can "Whoop" Someone

Growing up, Muhammad Ali was not a good student. In fact, when later rejected from the army for scoring at a substandard level, Ali quipped, “I never said I was the smartest. I said I was the greatest.” Yet, though he graduated 376th in his high school class of 391, Muhammad Ali is ferociously intelligent, as seen in the quickness and brilliance of his mind that frequently unleashed a stream of poetic couplets filled with African American inspired humor and insight.

At age 12 in 1954, Ali parked his bicycle in front of a Louisville department store. When he learned that his bicycle had been stolen, he approached a police officer named Joe Martin and told him that he wanted to "whoop" the thief. Martin, the coach of the Louisville city boxing program, told Ali that if he intended to "whoop" someone, he should learn to fight. The next day, Ali appeared at Louisville's Columbia Gym and began boxing lessons with Martin. Ali credits Martin with teaching him how to "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Martin accompanied Ali as his Olympic Coach to the 1960 Rome Olympics where Ali (shown here) received a Gold Medal in the light heavyweight division.

Unorthodox Style wins victories

with the brilliance of his mind

Standing at 6' 3 and 1 inch", Ali had a highly unorthodox style for a heavyweight boxer. He carried his hands at his sides, rather than the normal boxing style of carrying the hands high to defend the face. Instead, he relied on his quickness, his ability to avoid a punch, and, most of all, on the brilliance of his mind.  He sized up his opponent and went for his "mental jugular."  From a traditional boxing perspective, (said a famous boxing manager), "his physical performances in the ring were absolutely wrong, yet his brain was always in perfect working condition.  He showed us all that all victories come from the mind."

Ali won his first professional fight in Louisville on October 29, 1960, and eventually became the top contender for Sonny Liston’s title. In spite of his impressive record, Ali was not expected to beat the champ who was known for his aggressiveness. The fight was held on February 25, 1964.

During the weigh-in on the previous day, the never-bashful Ali declared that he would "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," and, in summarizing his strategy for avoiding Liston's assaults, said, "Your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see." By the third round of the fight, Ali opened a cut under Liston's eye. By the sixth, Ali dominated Liston. Then, Liston shocked the world by not coming out for the seventh round, making Ali heavyweight champion of the world.

Changed Name & C.O. Status

Makes Him Lightening Rod of Controversy

Following his ascension to champion, Muhammad Ali revealed that he was a member of the Nation of Islam and changed his name, first to Cassius X and then to Muhammad Ali. Ali retained the name even after he converted to orthodox Sunni Islam in 1975.

During the late 1960's Muhammad Ali became a conscientious objector, refusing to serve in the American army during the Vietnam War. Ali’s refusing military service and aligning himself with the Nation of Islam made him a lightning rod of controversy and one of that era's most recognizable figures.

Near the end of 1967, Ali was stripped of his title by the professional boxing commission and was not allowed to fight professionally for more than three years. He was also convicted for refusing induction into the U.S. Army. During those years in exile, Ali fought to appeal his conviction, and supported himself by giving speeches on college campuses opposing the Vietnam War. In 1970 Ali was allowed to fight again and in late 1971 the Supreme Court reversed his conviction.

"Fight Of The Century" & The “Thrilla in Manila”

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought what became known as “The Fight Of The Century” on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden. Time magazine called it, "the $5 million dollar fight." It lived up to the hype. In the final round, Frazier floored Ali with a hard left hook, going on to win the fight and retain his title with a unanimous decision, dealing Ali his first professional loss.

In 1975, Ali was again slated to fight Joe Frazier in what became known as the “Thrilla in Manila.” The anticipation for the fight was enormous – a final clash between these two great heavyweights. Ali's frequent insults, slurs and poems increased anticipation and excitement for the fight. After 14 grueling rounds, Frazier's trainer refused to allow him to continue, and Ali won.

Although he had several “comeback fights,” Muhammad Ali retired permanently in 1981, with a career record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 losses.

Even With Parkinson's,

Ali Devotes Himself

To Humanitarian Efforts Around The Globe

In the early 1980’s Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, following which his motor functions began a slow decline. Despite the disability, whenever possible, he devotes himself to humanitarian endeavors around the globe, lending his name and presence to hunger and poverty relief, supporting education, promoting adoption, and encouraging people to respect and better understand one another. It is estimated that Muhammad Ali has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry worldwide.

A Presidential Medal

For A Lifetime of Achievement

& Principled Service To Mankind

In 1999, Sports Illustrated magazine crowned Muhammad Ali, "Sportsman of the Century.” In 2001, a biographical film entitled Ali was made, starring Will Smith. And, on November 9, 2005, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush at a White House ceremony, for which the citation read:

MUHAMMAD ALI: "One of the greatest athletes of all time, Muhammad Ali produced some of America's most lasting sports memories, from winning the Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics to carrying the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics. As the first three-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, he thrilled, entertained, and inspired us. His deep commitment to equal justice and peace has touched people around the world. The United States honors Muhammad Ali for his lifetime of achievement and for his principled service to mankind."