Information About Muhammad Ali

Said to be one of the greatest sportsmen of all time, Muhammad Ali's career was a mixture of triumph and controversy.

  1. Significance

    • Muhammad Ali is a three times World Heavyweight Champion. In 1999, the BBC named him Sports Personality of the Century.

    History

    • Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay Jr. in Kentucky in 1942. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964.

    Features

    • Ali's distinctive boxing style was reminiscent of dance, The official Muhammad Ali website says that "he literally floated in the ring." Just as distinctive was his banter; he would make comments like, "To prove I'm great, he will fall in eight!"

    Notable Fights

    • Then named Clay, he won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1960. Ali was beaten by Joe Frazier in the 1971 "Match of the Century," and won against George Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle" of 1974.

    Controversy

    • In 1966, Ali refused to join the Armed Services because of his religious beliefs. In 1967, his boxing license was canceled, he was stripped of his World Championship title, and he was exiled from boxing for 3 1/2 years.