Laila Ali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laila Ali
Ali in 2017
Born	Laila Amaria Ali (1977-12-30) December 30, 1977 (age 48) Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Alma mater	Santa Monica College
Spouse(s)	Yahya McClain ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2005)​ Curtis Conway ​ ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Muhammad Ali (father)
Relatives	Rahaman Ali (uncle) Nico Ali Walsh (nephew)
Laila Ali Statistics Nickname(s) She Bee ' Madame Butterfly Pretty Baby Rated at Super middleweight Light heavyweight Height 5 ft 9+3⁄4 in (177.2 cm) Reach 70+1⁄2 in (179 cm) Stance Orthodox Boxing record Total fights 24 Wins 24 Wins by KO 21 Losses 0

Laila Amaria Ali, born on December 30, 1977, is an American television personality and a retired professional boxer. She competed from 1999 to 2007 and never lost a fight! Many people consider her one of the greatest female boxers of all time. Laila is also famous for being the daughter of the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali.

Early Life and Inspiration

Muhammad Ali holding Laila at her birth in 1977

Laila Amaria Ali was born on December 30, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida. Her father was the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, and her mother was Veronica Porché. Her parents divorced when she was nine years old. Laila grew up in a Muslim family.

When she was 16, Laila worked as a manicurist. She faced some challenges during her teenage years. Later, she earned a business degree from Santa Monica College in California. Before becoming a boxer, she even owned her own nail salon.

Laila's father, Muhammad Ali, was initially worried about her decision to become a professional boxer. He felt it was a very tough and dangerous sport, especially for women.

Becoming a Boxing Champion

Laila started her boxing journey at 18 after watching a fight featuring Christy Martin. She announced her plan to become a professional boxer on a TV show. Her father, Muhammad Ali, was concerned about her entering such a tough sport.

Laila's first professional fight was on October 8, 1999. She was 21 years old. Many people came to watch because she was Muhammad Ali's daughter. She won her first match by knockout in the very first round. She also won her second match, showing her strength and skill early on.

Laila quickly won nine fights in a row. Fans were excited to see her fight against the daughters of other famous boxers, like Joe Frazier's daughter, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde. On June 8, 2001, Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde finally fought. Their match was called Ali/Frazier IV, a nod to their fathers' legendary fights. Laila won this important fight by a judges' decision. This was a historic moment, as it was the first time two women headlined a major pay-per-view boxing event.

Laila continued her winning streak, earning several championship titles. In 2002, she won the IBA title. Later that year, she added the WIBA and IWBF belts, becoming a unified world champion. She successfully defended her titles multiple times against tough opponents. In 2003, Laila fought her original inspiration, Christy Martin, and won by knockout. She also won the IWBF Light Heavyweight title in 2004.

In 2005, Laila won the World Boxing Council (WBC) title, adding another major championship to her collection. She remained undefeated throughout her career. Her father, Muhammad Ali, often attended her fights and showed his support. Laila's last professional fight was on February 2, 2007, where she won by technical knockout. She retired from boxing with a perfect record, never having lost a single match.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Championships and Accomplishments

• 2012: AOCA Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award
• 2005/2007: WBC World Super Middleweight title (two defenses)
• 2002/2007: WIBA World Super Middleweight title (five defenses)
• 2004: IWBF Female Light Heavyweight title
• 2002/2004: IWBF Female Super Middleweight title (two defenses)
• 2002/2004: IBA Female Super Middleweight title (four defenses)

Life After Boxing: TV Star

Ali modeling at the 2011 Heart Truth fashion show

After her boxing career, Laila Ali became a popular television personality. In 2000, she appeared as herself in an episode of The Jersey. She also made guest appearances on sitcoms like One on One and Girlfriends. Laila even appeared in a music video for the band Default in 2002.

In 2007, Laila joined the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars. She had no prior dance experience but quickly impressed the judges and viewers. Laila and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, performed very well and finished in third place in the competition.

Dancing with the Stars performances

Laila also hosted the revival of American Gladiators with Hulk Hogan in 2008. She became a correspondent for The Early Show on CBS. She hosted other reality shows like The N's Student Body and All In with Laila Ali. Laila has appeared in commercials and as a contestant on shows like Stars Earn Stripes and The Biggest Loser. She also co-hosted Fashion Police for a time.

In 2019, Laila Ali participated in The Masked Singer as "Panda." In 2020, she voiced herself in an episode of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?. Since 2017, she has hosted the DIY series Home Made Simple on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Personal Life and Family

Ali in an interview with WHTA in 2024

In 2002, Laila Ali wrote a book called Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power with co-author David Ritz. In her book, she shared that she sometimes felt isolated because of her father's fame.

Laila married Johnny "Yahya" McClain in 2000, but they divorced in 2005. On July 23, 2007, Laila married former NFL player Curtis Conway in Los Angeles. They have two children together: a son born in August 2008, and a daughter born in April 2011. Laila is also the stepmother to Conway's three children from a previous relationship.

See also

In Spanish: Laila Ali para niños

• List of female boxers