Muhammad Ali facts for kids

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Muhammad Ali

Ali in 1967

Born

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.

January 17, 1942

Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Died

June 3, 2016 (aged 74)

Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.

Resting place

Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville

Monuments

Muhammad Ali Center
Muhammad Ali Mural, Los Angeles

Education

Central High School (1958)

Spouse(s)

Sonji Roi

(m. 1964; div. 1966)
Belinda Boyd

(m. 1967; div. 1977)
Veronica Porché Ali

(m. 1977; div. 1986)
Yolanda Williams

(m. 1986)

Children

9, including Laila

Parent(s)

Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr.
Odessa Grady Clay

Relatives

Rahman Ali (brother)
Archer Alexander (great-great-great grandfather)
Nico Ali Walsh (grandson)

Awards

Muhammad Ali § Notes

Muhammad Ali
Statistics
Nickname(s)	The Greatest The People's Champion The Louisville Lip
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in
Reach	78 in
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	61
Wins	56
Wins by KO	37
Losses	5

Signature

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was a famous American boxer. He became one of the most well-known boxers in the world. He was famous for his "rope-a-dope" technique and his clever rhymes. In 1999, Sports Illustrated magazine called Ali the "Sportsman of the Century." He won the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship three times. Ali also won an Olympic gold medal for boxing at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Many people called Ali “The Greatest.”

Discovering Boxing: Ali's Early Life

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

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. He had one brother. He was named after his father, who painted billboards. His mother, Odessa O'Grady Clay, worked as a domestic helper. Cassius Jr. went to Central High School in Louisville. He had dyslexia, which made school hard for him. He grew up when racial segregation was common.

When Ali was 12, someone stole his bicycle. A police officer and boxing coach named Joe E. Martin saw him upset. Martin told him he should learn how to box. This was the start of Ali's amazing journey.

Building Skills: Ali's Amateur Career

After watching amateur boxers on a TV show called Tomorrow's Champions, Clay became very interested in fighting. He started training with Fred Stoner. For the last four years of his amateur career, Chuck Bodak was his trainer.

1960 Olympians: Clay won gold against Zbigniew Pietrzykowski.

Clay's first fight was in 1954 against Ronnie O'Keefe. He won that fight. Clay had a great amateur record, winning 100 fights and losing only five. During this time, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Becoming a Champion: Early Professional Boxing

Poster for Cassius Clay's fifth professional fight

Clay's first professional fight was on October 29, 1960. He fought and defeated Tunney Hunsaker. By the end of 1963, Clay had won all 19 of his professional fights, with 15 wins by knockout. He beat many boxers, including Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, and Henry Cooper. Clay also defeated his former trainer, Archie Moore, in 1962.

At 22 years old, Clay fought the heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston. He won the fight and became the heavyweight champion of the world. Clay then defended his title against Floyd Patterson in November 1965.

Changing His Name: A New Identity

Soon after the Liston fight, Clay changed his name to Cassius X. He later changed it again to Muhammad Ali. This happened when he became a Muslim and joined the Nation of Islam.

Standing Up: Refusing to Join the Army

After Ali defeated Zora Folley in March 1967, he was stripped of his boxing title. This happened because he refused to join the army. The state of New York also took away his boxing license. He was found guilty of refusing the draft and sentenced to prison, but he stayed free while he appealed the decision.

On June 28, 1971, the highest court in the United States, the Supreme Court, overturned Ali's conviction. This meant he was free.

Returning to the Ring: Ali's Comeback

On August 11, 1970, while his case was still being appealed, Ali was allowed to box again in Atlanta. In November, a court decision made New York State give him back his boxing license. Ali started fighting again and quickly became a top contender against the heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier.

Epic Battles: Fights Against Joe Frazier

Ali and Frazier's first fight was on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden. It was called the "Fight of the Century." People were very excited to see two undefeated boxers fight. The fight was shown in 36 countries. Ali lost this fight, which was his first professional defeat.

Between his first and second fights with Joe Frazier, Ali won six fights in 1972. In 1973, Ken Norton gave Ali his second loss. Ali thought about quitting, but he fought Norton again and won. This led to a rematch with Joe Frazier on January 28, 1974. Frazier had recently lost his title to George Foreman.

Ali vs. Frazier, promotional photo

In their second fight, Ali won against Frazier. This victory set the stage for a title fight against the heavyweight champion, George Foreman.

Becoming World Heavyweight Champion Again

The Rumble in the Jungle: A Historic Fight

The fight against Foreman happened in Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974. It was called The Rumble in the Jungle. Foreman was known as one of the strongest punchers in boxing history. Many people thought Ali would not win. During the fight, Ali used his "rope-a-dope" strategy. He leaned against the ropes and let Foreman punch him, hoping to make Foreman tired. About 1 billion people watched this fight on TV around the world. It was the most-watched live TV broadcast at that time. Ali won the fight and became the Heavyweight Champion of the World once more.

The Final Showdown: Third Fight Against Joe Frazier

Ali then agreed to a third match with Joe Frazier in Manila. This fight, known as the "Thrilla in Manila," took place on October 1, 1975. It was very hot, almost 100 °F (38 °C). Ali won the fight. Afterward, he said Frazier was "the greatest fighter of all times next to me."

Ali's Later Career and Retirement

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

After the Manila fight, Ali fought a few more times between 1976 and 1980. He won some fights and lost some. In 1979, Ali said he was retiring, but he came back to boxing because he needed money. Ali's very last fight was on December 11, 1981, in Nassau, Bahamas, against Trevor Berbick. Ali lost that fight.

Beyond Boxing: Ali's Entertainment Career

Acting and Writing

Ali had a small role in the 1962 movie Requiem for a Heavyweight. When he wasn't allowed to box, he starred in a Broadway musical called Buck White in 1968. He also appeared in the 1972 documentary Black Rodeo.

Ali wrote his autobiography The Greatest: My Own Story in 1975 with help from Richard Durham. This book was made into a movie called The Greatest, where Ali played himself. In 1978, Ali starred in the film Freedom Road. He played a former slave who became a U.S. Senator in the 1870s.

Poetry and Music

Ali often used rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry. He used them both inside and outside the boxing ring. Some people say Ali was "the first rapper."

In 1963, Ali released a spoken word album called I Am the Greatest. It sold 500,000 copies. Many see it as an early example of rap music.

Professional Wrestling Appearances

Ali was also involved in professional wrestling. On March 31, 1985, he was a special referee for the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania.

In 1995, Ali led a group of wrestlers on a sports trip to North Korea. Ali was a special guest at Collision in Korea, a wrestling event that had the largest audience ever.

Muhammad Ali's Personal Life

Muhammad Ali was married four times. He had seven daughters and two sons. One of his sons was adopted.

Ali's daughter Laila became a professional boxer from 1999 to 2007. Her father had not wanted women to box before. But Ali went to many of Laila's fights and later told her he was wrong. Ali's daughter Hana is married to the fighter Kevin Casey. Hana wrote that her father had "extraordinary" love for people. She said he would bring homeless families home and help them. Famous people like Michael Jackson and Clint Eastwood often visited Ali.

Ali was known for being very generous and funny. He loved being the center of attention. He always signed autographs because he remembered how he felt when his idol, Sugar Ray Robinson, didn't sign one for him. Outside of boxing, Ali was a great philanthropist and activist. He always wanted to use his fame to help others.

Health Challenges and Legacy

Ali started having trouble speaking clearly and his hands began to shake in 1979. In the early 1980s, doctors found out he had Parkinson's syndrome. In 1984, he announced that he had Parkinson's disease. Many people think boxing injuries caused his illness, but he and some doctors disagreed. He continued to be a public figure around the world. However, in his later years, he made fewer public appearances as his condition worsened. His family cared for him.

Muhammad Ali died on June 3, 2016, at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 74 years old.

Famous Words from Muhammad Ali

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

Fun Facts About Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali and his father were named after a white farmer and abolitionist, Cassius Marcellus Clay.
Ali's great-grandfather, Abe Grady, was an Irishman who moved to the United States in the 1860s.
Ali won 56 of his 61 professional fights.
He was the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times.
He fought one of his most famous matches, Rumble in the Jungle, at 4 a.m.
In 2014, the gloves Ali wore when he won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston were bought for $836,000.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was 42.
Actor Will Smith played Ali in the movie Ali.

Professional Boxing Record Summary

Professional record summary
61 fights	56 wins	5 losses
By knockout	37	1
By decision	19	4

Images for kids

President Jimmy Carter greets Ali at a White House dinner, 1977
Ali (seen in background) at an address by Elijah Muhammad in 1964
Ali's headstone, with an inscription of his quote: "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room in heaven"
President George W. Bush embraces Ali after presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, during ceremonies at the White House
The Muhammad Ali Center, alongside Interstate 64 on Louisville, Kentucky's riverfront
Muhammad Ali pop art painting by John Stango