Muhammad Ali (boxer)

Muhammad Ali , 1942-, American boxer, b. Louisville, Ky. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he was a 1960 Olympic gold medalist. Shortly after upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champion, he formalized his association with the Nation of Islam (see Black Muslims ) and adopted the Muslim name Muhammad Ali.

Ali's flamboyant boxing style and outspoken stances on social issues made him a controversial figure during the turbulent 1960s and early 1970s. After beating Liston, he defended his title nine times, brashly proclaiming himself the "greatest of all time." In 1967 he refused induction into the armed services and became a symbol of resistance to the Vietnam War. The boxing establishment stripped Ali of his title and prevented him from fighting until the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971 upheld his draft appeal on religious grounds. Before retiring in 1981 Ali compiled a 56-5 record and became the only man to ever win the heavyweight crown three times. His fights with Joe Frazier and George Foreman were among boxing's biggest events.

In retirement, Ali has remained one of the most recognized of all world figures. The 1984 revelation that he suffered from Parkinson's disease renewed debate over the negative effects of boxing. His appearance at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, to light the Olympic flame, moved an international audience.

Bibliography: See T. Hauser, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times (1991); D. Remnick, King of the World (1998).

Ali, Muhammad (1942– ) US boxer, b. Cassius Marcellus Clay. He defeated Sonny Liston to gain the world heavyweight championship in 1964. He converted to Islam and joined the Black Muslims. Ali successfully defended the title nine times. In 1967 he refused to fight in the Vietnam War and the World Boxing Association (WBA) took away his title. In 1971 the US Supreme Court upheld Ali's appeal against the ban, but he was defeated in the ring by Joe Frazier. He regained the title from George Foreman in the 1974 ‘rumble in the jungle’ fight. In 1978 Ali was defeated by Leon Spinks, but won the rematch, becoming the first heavyweight to win the title three times.

Ali, Muhammad (1942–), boxer and three‐time heavyweight champion.Born as Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali first gained international attention when he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Rome Olympics. In 1964 he captured the heavyweight championship for the first time in a surprising sixth‐round technical knockout of Sonny Liston. Shortly after that fight, Ali announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam (Black Muslims), the black separatist religious group led by Elijah Muhammad. Ali's religious conversion provoked much controversy in America, especially among whites who abhorred his membership in a group that spoke of “white devils” and the superiority of the black race. He further infuriated many Americans when he refused induction into the armed forces in 1967, during the Vietnam War, on religious grounds. His stand resulted in the revoking of his heavyweight crown and conviction for draft evasion. In 1970 the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed his conviction and Ali resumed his boxing career.

Over the next decade Ali fought several memorable bouts, including three legendary fights with Joe Frazier, a victory over George Foreman in a title bout in Zaire, two championship fights with Leon Spinks, and a humiliating defeat at the hands of Larry Holmes. In 1981 Ali retired from the ring after suffering a loss to the relatively unknown Trevor Berbick. After his retirement, Ali spent time raising money to combat Parkinson's syndrome for which he was diagnosed in 1984, making promotional appearances and doing missionary work for the Nation of Islam, and participating in various sports tributes and fundraisers.
See also Boxing; Sports: Professional Sports.

Bibliography

Thomas Hauser , Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, 1991.
Elliot J. Gorn , Muhammad Ali: The People's Champ, 1995.

David K. Wiggins