Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. He was born into an African-American family and raised in a working-class neighborhood.
He began training as a boxer at 12 and won his first professional fight in 1960.
Ali won the world heavyweight championship in 1964 by defeating Sonny Liston.
He was known for his quick footwork and ability to "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."
In 1964, Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali to reflect his newfound beliefs and association with the organization.
He was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War and was stripped of his title and banned from boxing for three years after refusing to be drafted into the military.
Ali returned to the ring in 1970 and won the world heavyweight championship again in 1974 and 1978.
Ali retired from boxing in 1981 with a professional record of 56-5.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984 and continued to make public appearances and advocate for social causes until his death on June 3, 2016.
Ali was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 and was honored with a memorial service at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
