Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history. A controversial and polarizing figure during his early career, Ali is today widely regarded for the skills he displayed in the ring plus the values he exemplified outside of it: religious freedom, racial justice and the triumph of principle over expedience. He is one of the most recognized sports figures of the past 100 years, crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC. More
Born Cassius Clay, at the age of 22 he won the world heavyweight championship in 1964 from Sonny Liston in a stunning upset. Shortly after that bout, Ali joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name. He converted to Sunni Islam in 1975.
In 1967, three years after winning the heavyweight title, Ali refused to be conscripted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War. The U.S. government declined to recognize him as a conscientious objector, however, because Ali declared that he would fight in a war if directed to do so by Allah or his messenger. He was eventually arrested and found guilty on draft evasion charges and stripped of his boxing title. He did not fight again for nearly four years—losing a time of peak performance in an athlete's career. Ali's appeal worked its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, where in 1971 his conviction was overturned on a technicality. The Supreme Court held that, since the appeals board gave no reason for the denial of a conscientious objector exemption to petitioner, it was impossible to determine on which of the three grounds offered in the Justice Department's letter that board had relied. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation.
Muhammad Ali timeline
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Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.) Is Born
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942) is a retired American boxer and three-time World Heavyweight Champion, who is... Read more
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Muhammad Ali is pointed to boxing by police officer to channel his anger
Clay was first directed toward boxing by the white Louisville police officer and boxing coach Joe E. Martin, who encountered the 12-year-old fuming... Read more
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Muhammad Ali wins light-heavyweight gold medal at Summer Olympics
Under Stoner's guidance, Cassius Clay went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic... Read more
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Cassius Clay Wins First Pro Fight
After his Olympic triumph, Clay returned to Louisville to begin his professional career. There, on October 29, 1960, he won his first professional... Read more
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Cassius Clay Jr. changes his name to Muhammad Ali
Originally known as Cassius Clay, Ali changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964, subsequently converting to Sunni Islam in 1975. Read more
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Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) defeats Sonny Liston for Heavyweight Title
From 1960 to 1963, the young fighter amassed a record of 19–0, with 15 knockouts. He defeated boxers such as Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie... Read more
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Muhammad Ali marries Sonji Roi
Muhammad Ali has been married four times and has seven daughters and two sons. Ali met his first wife, cocktail waitress Sonji Roi, approximately... Read more
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Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the US Army
In 1964, Ali failed the U.S. Armed Forces qualifying test because his writing and spelling skills were sub-par. However, in early 1966, the tests... Read more
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Muhammad Ali marries Belinda Boyd
On August 17, 1967, Ali (aged 25) married 17-year old Belinda Boyd. After the wedding, she converted to Islam and changed her name to Khalilah Ali,... Read more
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Due to a loophole Muhammad Ali returns to boxing to knock out Jerry Quarry
In 1970, while his case was still on appeal, Ali was allowed to fight again. With the help of a State Senator, he was granted a license to box in... Read more
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"The Fight of the Century" Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali
Fight of the Century was the promotional nickname given to the first boxing match between champion Joe Frazier (26-0, 23 KOs) and challenger... Read more
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Supreme Court reverses conviction of Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision
Clay v. United States, 403 U.S. 698 (1971), was boxer Muhammad Ali's appeal of his conviction for refusing to report for induction into the United... Read more
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Muhammad Ali defeats Joe Frazier in a rematch fight
In 1973, Ali fought Ken Norton, who broke Ali's jaw and won by split decision in 12 rounds. Ali won the rematch, also by split decision, on... Read more
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Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman Battle in the "Rumble in the Jungle"
The Rumble in the Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on 30 October 1974, in the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic... Read more
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"Thrilla in Manila" third match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier
The Thrilla in Manila was the third and final famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of... Read more
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Muhammad Ali marries Veronica Porsche
She was the third wife of American boxer Muhammad Ali, and the mother of actress and professional boxer Laila Ali. Ali and Porche began a... Read more
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Muhammad Ali loses heavyweight title to Leon Spinks
Spinks then ranked number one among the world's heavyweight challengers. He made history on February 15, 1978, when he beat Muhammad Ali in a... Read more
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Muhammad Ali reclaims heavyweight title from Leon Spinks
In February 1978, Ali lost the heavweight title to 1976 Olympics Champion Leon Spinks. On September 15, 1978, Ali fought a rematch in the New... Read more
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Muhammad Ali announces retirement
In 1979 Ali announced his retirement, at that point having lost only three times in 59 fights, but he returned to fight World Boxing Council... Read more
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Muhammad Ali comes out of retirement
Holmes defended his title against contenders of varying quality, many quite good--Tim Witherspoon, Earnie Shavers, Bonecrusher Smith, Leon Spinks,... Read more
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Muhammad Ali is diagnosed with Parkinson's Syndrome
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's Syndrome in 1984, a disease for which those subject to severe head trauma, such as boxers, are many times more... Read more
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Muhammad Ali lights the flame at the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an... Read more
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George W. Bush awards Muhammad Ali the Presidential Citizens Medal
On January 8, 2005, Muhammad Ali was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President George W. Bush. The Presidential Citizens Medal... Read more
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George W. Bush awards Muhammad Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony on November 9, 2005, and the "Otto Hahn Peace Medal in Gold" of the United... Read more
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Muhammad Ali Dies
Ali was hospitalized in Scottsdale on June 2, 2016, with a respiratory illness. Though his condition was initially described as "fair", it worsened... Read more