Muhammad Ali Biography

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, athlete, heavyweight champion and activist, famous as one of the most outstanding and significant celebrated sports figures of the 20th century.

Muhammad Ali Early life and Education

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on 17th January 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was born to father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and mother, Odessa Grady Clay and grew up along with his five siblings. His father was named in honor of the 19th-century Republican politician and staunch abolitionist whereas his mother was a domestic helper.

When Ali was at the age of 12, his bicycle was stolen and as he told a police officer that he was going to thrash the thief. The police officer told Muhammad that he better learn how to box first which touched his string of heart and eventually after seeing amateur boxer on a local television called Tomorrows’ Champions. As Ali interest was in fighting for fame, fortune, and glory, he started an amateur career and started training with Chuck Bodak.

Muhammad Ali career

Muhammad made his amateur boxing debut in 1954. He won the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, Amateur Athletic Union’s national title for the light-heavyweight division which led him to make a professional debut on 29th October 1960.

He won the first three bouts to face Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland and earned the first gold medal and garnered “Hero” status at the US Olympic boxing team.

Muhammad Ali fight with George Foreman (Rumble in the Jungle) $5.45 million;

After training for several years, Muhammad Ali was ready for the Heavyweight championship which was held on 25th February 1964 in Miami Beach. His first heavyweight championship was with Liston who was a dominating fighter with a criminal past and ties to the mob.

After winning the title, Ali became the youngest boxer to win the title at the age of 22, though Floyd Patterson won the title at the age of 21, later Mike Tyson broke both records in 1986 and became the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight championship at the age of 20.

Muhammad also defended the former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson on 22nd November 1965. He also defeated well-known boxers such as George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London, Karl Mildenberger, Cleveland Williams, etc. in the following year. In March 1966, Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces which systematically denied his boxing license in every state and also stripped of his passport.

Ali was suspended from boxing from March 1967 to October 1970. After getting suspended for few years, he granted a license to box by the City of Atlanta Athletic Commission on 11th August 1970. He made his first return bout against Jerry Quarry on 26th October and won after three round.

Top 10 Muhammad Ali Best Knockouts;

During Ali’s career, he was regarded as one of the leading heavyweight boxers of the 20th century and remained the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion. His achievement in the heavyweight title bouts in modern boxing history at the age of 22 was unbeaten for more than 35 years.

He was ranked as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC as well as the third greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN Sports Century.

Muhammad earned wide recognition and fame during his career. He won several titles and prestigious awards and honors for his outstanding boxing skills. His notable fight during his career was the Fight of the Century, Super Fight II, Thrilla in Manila and The Rumble in the Jungle.

After spending 27 years in boxing, Ali retired at the age of 39 in 1981. He decided to give his much of his time for family after retirement and made public appearances limited.

Muhammad Ali Personal life

Muhammad married four times in his life. Firstly, he got married to Sonji Roi, a cocktail waitress, on 14th August 1964 after dating for a month. Being the wife of Muslim religious, Muhammad Ali, she refused to adhere to strict Islamic dress and behavior codes, the couple quarreled and argued several times which eventually led to divorced on 10th January 1966.

Secondly, Ali married to Belinda Boyd on 17th August 1967. Belinda converted her religion to Islam and changed her name to Khalilah Ali. The couple welcomed four children named as Maryum in 1968, twins Jamillah and Rasheda in 1970 and Muhammad Ali Jr. in 1972.

Ali began an extramarital relationship with a 16 years old girl Wanda Bolton. Ali and Wanda had a daughter Khaliah, in 1974, but didn’t married and ended their affair. He also had another daughter, Miya, from another extramarital relationship.

Thirdly, Muhammad married to Veronica Porche, actress and model, in 1977. The couple welcomed two children named as Hana and Laila Ali. The couple finalized their divorce in 1986. On 19th November 1986, Ali married to Yolanda Williams, friends since 1964. The couple adopted a five-month-old son Asaad Amin.

Beside Ali marriage and children, he also had 20 years relationship with Barbara Mensha and has a daughter Kiiursti Mensha-Ali. Barbara also claims that he also had a relationship with other children.

Muhammad Ali death

On 20th December 2014, Ali was hospitalized for a mild case of pneumonia and was hospitalized on 15th January 2015 for a urinary tract infection. On 2nd June 2016, he was hospitalized in Scottsdale with a respiratory illness.

American professional boxer, athlete, a heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, died at the age of 74 from septic shock on 3rd June 2016. His death news was the number one trending topic on Twitter and Facebook. His death news was extensively broadcast on ABC News, BBC, CNN, Fox News, etc.

Traditional Muslim funeral service honors of Muhammad Ali;

Muhammad Ali Net worth

Ali earned the huge sum of money in his career. He won several title and championship in his career through which he earned a decent amount of money. He earned $2.5 million in 1971 after winning the match with fighter Joe Frazier which worth $15 million in the present context. He also earned $5.45 million in a fight with George Foreman and his biggest career paycheck was in 1980 as he won $7.9 million in a fight with Larry Holmes.

Muhammad Ali New Worth;

Ali sold the rights to his name and image for $50 million. He also held 20% interest in his licensing which is $7 million per year in revenue. Beside his income, he also earned the huge sum of money through several endorsement deals. He had an endorsement contract with reputed companies like Adidas, Mr. Porter, EA, Toyota, and much more. As per 2017, it is estimated that his current net worth is around $60 million.

• 19th-century Republican
• activist
• athlete
• boxer
• Chuck Bodak
• Cleveland Williams
• ESPN Sports Century
• Fight of the Century
• Heavyweight Champion
• Mike Tyson
• Muhammad Ali
• Sports Illustrated
• US Olympic