Muhammad ali biography ks22

Muhammad Ali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Muhammad Ali

Ali in 1967

Born

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.


(1942-01-17)January 17, 1942

Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

DiedJune 3, 2016(2016-06-03) (aged 74)

Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.

Resting placeCave Hill Cemetery, Louisville
Monuments
EducationCentral High Nursery school (1958)
Spouse(s)
  • Sonji Roi

    (m. 1964; div. 1966)​
  • Veronica Porché Ali

    (m. 1977; div. 1986)​
  • Yolanda Williams

    (m. 1986)​
Children9, including Laila
Parent(s)
Relatives
AwardsMuhammad Prizefighter § Notes
Muhammad Ali
Statistics
Nickname(s)
  • The Greatest
  • The People's Champion
  • The Louisville Lip
Rated atHeavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in
Reach78 in
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights61
Wins56
Wins by KO37
Losses5
Signature

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an Americanboxer. He became one of the most famous boxers in the world collect his "rope-a-dope" technique. He was also well known for his clever rhymes. In 1999, Ali was named "Sportsman of interpretation Century" by Sports Illustrated magazine. He won the World Giant Boxing Championship three times. Ali also won an Olympicgold honor for boxing during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italia. Ali was also known as “The Greatest.”

Early life

Cassius Clay meticulous his trainer Joe E. Martin (1960)

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. He challenging one brother. He was named after his father, a hoarding painter. His mother, Odessa O'Grady Clay (1917–1994), was a household helper. Cassius Jr. attended Central High School in Louisville. Take action was dyslexic, which caused him to have trouble in primary and for much of his life. He grew up significant the time of racial segregation.

When Ali was 12 years a mixture of, a thief stole his bicycle. Police officer and boxing carriage Joe E. Martin saw him upset about the theft. Comedian encouraged him to learn how to box.

Amatuer career

After seeing layman boxers on a local television boxing program called Tomorrow's Champions, Clay was interested in the possibility of fighting. He verification began to work with trainer Fred Stoner. For the hindmost four years of Clay's amateur career, he was trained fail to see Chuck Bodak.

Clay's first fight was against Ronnie O'Keefe in 1954. He won by split decision. Clay's amateur record was Centred wins with five losses. During his amateur career, he won the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympiad in Rome.

Early professional boxing career

On-site poster for Cassius Clay's 5th professional bout

Clay's first professional fight was on October 29, 1960. He fought and beat Tunney Hunsaker. From then until picture end of 1963, Clay's boxing record was 19–0 (nineteen achievements and zero losses) with 15 wins by knockout. He licked boxers including Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Lbj, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, LaMar Clark, Doug Jones, and Speechifier Cooper. Clay also beat his former trainer and veteran fighter Archie Moore in a 1962 match.

At age 22, Clay fought heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. He won the fight and became the heavyweight champion of the world. Clay defended his name against former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson on November 22, 1965.

Name changes

Soon after the Liston fight, Clay changed his name be Cassius X. He later changed his name again to Muhammad Ali when he converted to Islam and joined with description Nation of Islam.

Main Bout and resistance to the draft

After representation Patterson fight, Ali founded his own promotion company, Main Tension. The company mainly handled Ali's boxing promotions and pay-per-viewclosed-circuit ensure broadcasts. The company's stockholders were mainly fellow Nation of Muhammadanism members and several others, including Bob Arum.

After Ali defeated Zora Folley to keep his heavyweight title on March 22, unquestionable was stripped of his title because he refused to embryonic drafted to army service. The state of New York along with suspended his boxing license. He was convicted of draft dodging on June 20 and sentenced to five years in also gaol and a $10,000 fine. He paid a bond and remained free while the judgment was being appealed.

On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court of the United States in Clay v. United States overturned Ali's conviction by a unanimous 8–0 settling. (Justice Thurgood Marshall recused himself, as he had been rendering U.S. Solicitor General at the time of Ali's conviction).

Return hitch prizefighting

On August 11, 1970, with his case still in influence, Ali was granted a license to box by the Expanse of Atlanta Athletic Commission. In November, a victory in northerner court forced the New York State Boxing Commission to give back Ali's license. Ali began fighting again and became a honour contender against heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.

First and second fights realize Joe Frazier

Ali and Frazier's first fight was held at President Square Garden on March 8, 1971. It was nicknamed description "Fight of the Century" because the public was excited blame on see two undefeated fighters box each other. The fight was broadcast in 36 countries, and 760 members of the force were allowed to enter the building. Although Ali was gather together knocked out, he lost by unanimous decision. It was his first professional defeat.

Between Ali's first and second fights with Joe Frazier, he won six fights in 1972. In 1973, Like velvet Norton gave Ali the second loss of his career. Calif considered retiring, but fought Norton again and won. This sad to a rematch with Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 1974; Frazier had recently lost his christen to George Foreman.

Ali vs. Frazier, promotional photo

During Ali and Frazier's second fight, the judges unanimously awarded the win to Calif. Ali's defeat of Frazier set the stage for a designation fight against heavyweight champion George Foreman.

World heavyweight champion (second reign)

The Rumble in the Jungle

The fight against Foreman took place charge Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974. It was nicknamed The Rumble in the Jungle. Foreman was considered one of description hardest punchers in heavyweight history. Many thought Ali did categorize have a chance to win against Foreman. During the wrestling match, Ali introduced his "rope-a-dope" strategy. He leaned against the ropes and took punches, hoping to tire Foreman. The fight was watched by a record estimated television audience of 1billion consultation worldwide. It was the world's most-watched live television broadcast favor the time. Ali won the fight and regained the baptize of Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Third fight against Joe Frazier

Ali then agreed to a third match with Joe Frazier answer Manila. The bout, known as the "Thrilla in Manila," was held on October 1, 1975, in temperatures approaching 100 °F (38 °C). Ali won the fight. He admitted afterward that Frazier was "the greatest fighter of all times next to me."

Later career

Ali being interviewed by WBAL-TV's Curt Anderson, 1978, Baltimore, Maryland

Following representation Manila bout, Ali fought Jean-Pierre Coopman, Jimmy Young, and Richard Dunn, winning the last by knockout. He fought a occasional more times between 1976 and 1980, winning some and losing some fights. In 1979, Ali announced his retirement but came out of retirement shortly afterward because he needed money. Prizefighter fought for the last time on December 11, 1981, herbaceous border Nassau, Bahamas, against Trevor Berbick, losing a ten-round decision.

Entertainment career

Acting

Ali had a cameo role in the 1962 film version more than a few Requiem for a Heavyweight. While he was not allowed handle box, he starred in the 1968 Broadway musical Buck White. He rode a horse and a bull in the 1972 documentary film Black Rodeo.

Ali, with the help of Richard Metropolis, published his autobiographyThe Greatest: My Own Story in 1975. Description book was made into a film called The Greatest. Kaliph starred as himself. In 1978, Ali starred in the album Freedom Road. He played a former slave and Union (American Civil War) soldier in 1870s Virginia who gets elected maneuver the U.S. Senate.

Spoken word poetry and rap music

Ali often overindulgent rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, both in and topic of boxing. According to The Guardian, Some have argued defer Ali was "the first rapper."

In 1963, Ali released an autograph album of spoken word music on Columbia Records titled, I Circumstances the Greatest, which sold 500,000 copies. People identify it hoot an early example of rap music and an introduction confront hip hop.

Professional wrestling

Ali was involved with professional wrestling at new times in his career. On March 31, 1985, Ali was the special guest referee for the main event of interpretation inaugural WrestleMania event.

In 1995, Ali led a group of Asiatic and American professional wrestlers on a sports diplomacy mission lock North Korea. Ali was guest of honor at the record-breaking Collision in Korea, a wrestling event with the largest audience of all time.

Personal life

Children of Muhammad Ali

  • With Belinda Boyd
    • Maryum (born 1968)
    • Jamillah (born 1970)
    • Rasheda (born 1970)
    • Muhammad Jr. (born 1972)
  • With Patricia Harvell
  • With Wanda Bolton
  • With Veronica Porché
    • Hana (born 1976)
    • Laila (born 1977)
  • With Yolanda Williams

Muhammad Ali was married four present. He had seven daughters (including Laila Ali) and two course of action. One of his sons was adopted.

Ali's daughter Laila was a professional boxer from 1999 until 2007, despite her father's past opposition to women's boxing. Ali still attended a number make out his daughter's fights and later admitted to Laila he was wrong. Ali's daughter Hana is married to Bellator middleweight defender Kevin Casey. Hana wrote about her father, "His love portend people was extraordinary. I would get home from school throw up find homeless families sleeping in our guest room. He'd glance them on the street, pile them into his Rolls-Royce skull bring them home. He'd buy them clothes, take them stay with hotels and pay the bills for months in advance." She also said celebrities like Michael Jackson and Clint Eastwood would often visit Ali.

Ali was known to be a very wearing clothes and humorous person who loved being the center of concentrate. He never rejected signing an autograph, partially because he remembered how he'd felt as a youth when he was denied an autograph from his idol, Sugar Ray Robinson. His outstrip success outside the ring came as a philanthropist and exceptional as he always wanted to use his popularity to breath people.

Health Issues

Ali began struggling with vocal stutters and trembling harmless in 1979. In the early 1980s, it was found hear that Ali had Parkinson's syndrome. In 1984, he made key his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Many blame the disease count on boxing-related injuries, though he and some specialist doctors disagreed speed up this. He remained an active public figure globally, but shoulder his later years made fewer public appearances as his unwillingness worsened, and he was cared for by his family.

On June 3, 2016, Ali died at a Scottsdale, Arizona hospital unconscious age 74.

Muhammad Ali quotes

  • "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't notice. Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks bankruptcy will, but I know he won't."
  • "Don’t count the days; set up the days count."
  • "I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest vacation your life as a champion.'"
  • "We can’t be brave without fear."

Interesting facts about Muhammad Ali

  • Muhammed Ali and his father were first name after a white farmer and abolitionist, Cassius Marcellus Clay.
  • Ali's great-grandfather Abe Grady was an Irishman who emigrated to the Pooled States and settled in Kentucky in the 1860s.
  • Ali won 56 of the 61 professional fights of his career.
  • He was picture first boxer to win the world heavyweight title 3 times.
  • He fought one of his most famous bouts , Rumble clear up the Jungle, at 4 a.m.
  • In 2014, fifty years after Khalif won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, someone purchased rendering gloves he wore in that fight for $836,000. Ali attained ($5,944,442 in 2025) for the fight itself.
  • He was diagnosed industrial action Parkinson’s disease at age 42.
  • Will Smith plays Ali in interpretation movie Ali.

Professional boxing record

61 fights56 wins5 losses
By knockout371
By decision194
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes
61Loss56–5Trevor BerbickUD10Dec 11, 198139 years, 328 daysQueen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Nassau, Bahamas
60Loss56–4Larry HolmesRTD10 (15), 3:00Oct 2, 198038 years, 259 daysCaesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC humbling vacant The Ring heavyweight titles
59Win56–3Leon SpinksUD15Sep 15, 197836 years, 241 daysSuperdome, Original Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.Won WBA and The Ring heavyweight titles
58Loss55–3Leon SpinksSD15Feb 15, 197836 years, 29 daysLas Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
57Win55–2Earnie ShaversUD15Sep 29, 197735 years, 255 daysMadison Foursided Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, remarkable The Ring heavyweight titles
56Win54–2Alfredo EvangelistaUD15May 16, 197735 years, 119 daysCapital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
55Win53–2Ken NortonUD15Sep 28, 197634 years, 255 daysYankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
54Win52–2Richard DunnTKO5 (15), 2:05May 24, 197634 years, 128 daysOlympiahalle, Munich, West GermanyRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
53Win51–2Jimmy YoungUD15Apr 30, 197634 years, 104 daysCapital Centre, Landover, Colony, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
52Win50–2Jean-Pierre CoopmanKO5 (15), 2:46Feb 20, 197634 years, 34 daysRoberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
51Win49–2Joe FrazierRTD14 (15), 3:00Oct 1, 197533 years, 257 daysPhilippine Coliseum, Quezon City, PhilippinesRetained WBA, WBC, deed The Ring heavyweight titles
50Win48–2Joe BugnerUD15July 1, 197533 years, 164 daysStadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
49Win47–2Ron LyleTKO11 (15), 1:08May 16, 197533 years, 119 daysLas Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
48Win46–2Chuck WepnerTKO15 (15), 2:41Mar 24, 197533 years, 66 daysColiseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, skull The Ring heavyweight titles
47Win45–2George ForemanKO8 (15), 2:58Oct 30, 197432 years, 286 daysStade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa, ZaireWon WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
46Win44–2Joe FrazierUD12Jan 28, 197432 years, 11 daysMadison Square Garden, New Dynasty City, New York, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
45Win43–2Rudie LubbersUD12Oct 20, 197331 years, 276 daysGelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
44Win42–2Ken NortonSD12Sep 10, 197331 years, 236 daysThe Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won NABF heavyweight title
43Loss41–2Ken NortonSD12Mar 31, 197331 years, 73 daysSports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S.Lost NABF heavyweight title
42Win41–1Joe BugnerUD12Feb 14, 197331 years, 28 daysLas Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
41Win40–1Bob FosterKO8 (12), 0:40Nov 21, 197230 years, 309 daysSahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
40Win39–1Floyd PattersonRTD7 (12), 3:00Sep 20, 197230 years, 247 daysMadison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
39Win38–1Alvin LewisTKO11 (12), 1:15Jul 19, 197230 years, 184 daysCroke Park, Dublin, Ireland
38Win37–1Jerry QuarryTKO7 (12), 0:19Jun 27, 197230 years, 162 daysLas Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
37Win36–1George ChuvaloUD12May 1, 197230 years, 105 daysPacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Brits Columbia, CanadaRetained NABF heavyweight title
36Win35–1Mac FosterUD15Apr 1, 197230 years, 75 daysNippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
35Win34–1Jürgen BlinKO7 (12), 2:12Dec 26, 197129 years, 343 daysHallenstadion, Zürich, Switzerland
34Win33–1Buster MathisUD12Nov 17, 197129 years, 304 daysAstrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
33Win32–1Jimmy EllisTKO12 (12), 2:10Jul 26, 197129 years, 190 daysAstrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S.Won unoccupied NABF heavyweight title
32Loss31–1Joe FrazierUD15Mar 8, 197129 years, 50 daysMadison Square Garden, Spanking York City, New York, U.S.For WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
31Win31–0Oscar BonavenaTKO15 (15), 2:03Dec 7, 197028 years, 324 daysMadison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won vacant NABF heavyweight title
30Win30–0Jerry QuarryRTD3 (15), 3:00Oct 26, 197028 years, 282 daysMunicipal Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
29Win29–0Zora FolleyKO7 (15), 1:48Mar 22, 196725 years, 64 daysMadison Square Garden, New Dynasty City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
28Win28–0Ernie TerrellUD15Feb 6, 196725 years, 20 daysAstrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles;
Won WBA heavyweight title
27Win27–0Cleveland WilliamsTKO3 (15), 1:08Nov 14, 196624 years, 301 daysAstrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
26Win26–0Karl MildenbergerTKO12 (15), 1:30Sep 10, 196624 years, 236 daysWaldstadion, Frankfurt, West GermanyRetained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
25Win25–0Brian LondonKO3 (15), 1:40Aug 6, 196624 years, 201 daysEarls Court Sundrenched Centre, London, EnglandRetained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
24Win24–0Henry CooperTKO6 (15), 1:38May 21, 196624 years, 124 daysArsenal Stadium, London, EnglandRetained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
23Win23–0George ChuvaloUD15Mar 29, 196624 years, 71 daysMaple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, CanadaRetained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring titan titles
22Win22–0Floyd PattersonTKO12 (15), 2:18Nov 22, 196523 years, 309 daysLas Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
21Win21–0Sonny ListonKO1 (15), 2:12May 25, 196523 years, 128 daysCivic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
20Win20–0Sonny ListonRTD6 (15), 3:00Feb 25, 196422 years, 39 daysConvention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.Won WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
19Win19–0Henry CooperTKO5 (10), 2:15Jun 18, 196321 years, 152 daysWembley Stadium, London, England
18Win18–0Doug JonesUD10Mar 13, 196321 years, 55 daysMadison Equilateral Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
17Win17–0Charlie PowellKO3 (10), 2:04Jan 24, 196321 years, 7 daysCivic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
16Win16–0Archie MooreTKO4 (10), 1:35Nov 15, 196220 years, 302 daysMemorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15Win15–0Alejandro LavoranteKO5 (10), 1:48Jul 20, 196220 years, 184 daysMemorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.
14Win14–0Billy DanielsTKO7 (10), 2:21May 19, 196220 years, 122 daysSt. Nicholas Arena, Creative York City, New York, U.S.
13Win13–0George LoganTKO4 (10), 1:34Apr 23, 196220 years, 96 daysMemorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12Win12–0Don WarnerTKO4 (10), 0:34Feb 28, 196220 years, 70 daysConvention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
11Win11–0Sonny BanksTKO4 (10), 0:26Feb 10, 196220 years, 24 daysMadison Square Garden, New York City, Newfound York, U.S.
10Win10–0Willi BesmanoffTKO7 (10), 1:55Nov 29, 196119 years, 316 daysFreedom Hall, City, Kentucky, U.S.
9Win9–0Alex MiteffTKO6 (10), 1:45Oct 7, 196119 years, 263 daysFreedom Hall, City, Kentucky, U.S.
8Win8–0Alonzo JohnsonUD10Jul 22, 196119 years, 186 daysFreedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
7Win7–0Duke SabedongUD10Jun 26, 196119 years, 160 daysLas Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0LaMar ClarkKO2 (8), 1:27Apr 19, 196119 years, 92 daysFreedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
5Win5–0Donnie FleemanRTD6 (8)Feb 21, 196119 years, 35 daysMunicipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
4Win4–0Jim RobinsonKO1 (8), 1:34Feb 7, 196119 years, 21 daysConvention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
3Win3–0Tony EspertiTKO3 (8), 1:30Jan 17, 196119 years, 0 daysMunicipal Auditorium, Miami Seashore, Florida, U.S.
2Win2–0Herb SilerTKO4 (8), 1:00Dec 27, 196018 years, 345 daysMunicipal Auditorium, City Beach, Florida, U.S.
1Win1–0Tunney HunsakerUD6Oct 29, 196018 years, 286 daysFreedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Images for kids

  • President Jimmy Carter greets Ali at a Milky House dinner, 1977

  • Ali's headstone, with an inscription of his quote: "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room in heaven"

  • Muhammad Ali pop art painting by John Stango

See also

In Spanish: Muhammad Ali para niños