Muhammad Ali first came into the public eye when, as Cassius Clay, he won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. In 1964 he stunned the boxing community with his defeat of Sonny Liston, the heavyweight champion, to take the title for the first time. Throughout his extraordinary career, his influence on the world of boxing changed the sport forever. He then shocked the world when he announced that he had become a Muslim and changed his name to Muhammad Ali immediately after the Liston fight. When he refused to go and fight in Vietnam because of his beliefs he was branded a 'Draft-Dodger' and threatened with prison. The boxing authorities stripped him of his title and he was effectively banned from boxing for over three years; the Golden Boy had turned into an enemy of the state.
Despite this, he stuck to his principles and during the three years of excile from the sport he found a new life, studying his religion and making a living ftom public speaking. Whatever people may have thought of him it was evident that he was sincere in his beliefs and he started to reclaim the respect of the public. At the age of twenty-eight after the years banned from the sport he loved, he was able to resume his boxing career. He regained his title and went on to win many of the most breathtaking and memorable fights that the world has ever seen.
Height: 6'3" Weight: 186-236 lbs 61 bouts, 10/29/1960 to 12/11/1981 Record: 56 Wins, 5 Loss, 37Knockouts
1960 Olympic Light Heavyweight Gold Medallist
Heavyweight Champion 1964-67, 1974-78, 1978-79
Born; 1/17/1942, Louisville, KY. Named; Cassius Marcellus Clay, jr.
Record: 56 Wins, 5 Loss, 37 Knockouts
27 Dec Herb Siler, Miami Beach, KO 4
6 Feb Ingemar Johansson, Miami Beach, Spar 2
7 Feb Jim Robinson, Miami Beach, KO 1
21 Feb Donnie Fleeman, Miami Beach, KO 7
19 Apr Lamar Clark, Louisville, KO 2 26 Jun Duke Sabedong, Las Vegas, W 10
22 Jul Alonzo Johnson, Louisville, W 10
7 Oct Alex Miteff, Louisville, KO 6
29 Nov Willi Besmanoff, Louisville, KO 7
28 Mar Don Warner, Miami Beach, KO 4
23 Apr George Logan, Los Angeles, KO 6
19 May Billy Daniels, New York, KO 7
20 Jul Alejandro Lavorante, Los Angeles, KO 5
15 Nov Archie Moore, Los Angeles, KO 4
13 Mar Doug Jones, New York, NY W 10
18 Jun Henry Cooper, London KO 5
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
31 Jul Jimmy Ellis, San Juan, Exh. 3
31 Jul Cody Jones, San Juan, Exh. 3
16 Aug Cody Jones, Goteborg, Sweden Exh. 2
16 Aug Jimmy Ellis, Goteborg, Sweden Exh. 2
20 Aug Jimmy Ellis, London Exh. 4
20 Aug Cody Jones, Paisley, Scotland Exh. 4
22 Nov Floyd Patterson, Las Vegas, KO 12(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
21 May Henry Cooper, London KO 6
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
6 Aug Brian London, London KO 3
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
10 Sep Karl Mildenberger, Frankfurt, Germany KO 12(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
14 Nov Cleveland Williams, Houston, KO 3(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
22 Mar Zora Folley, New York, NY KO 7(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
15 Jun Alvin Lewis, Detroit, Exh. 3
15 Jun Orvill Qualls, Detroit, Exh. 3
?? Sep Rufus Braswell Exh. 2
?? Sep Johnny Hudgins Exh. 2
?? Sep George Hill Exh. 4
26 Oct Jerry Quarry, Atlanta, KO 3
7 Dec Oscar Bonavena, New York, KO 15
(For World Heavyweight Title)
25 Jun J.D. McCauley, Dayton, Exh. 2
25 Jun Eddie Brooks, Dayton,- Exh. 3
25 Jun Rufus Brassell, Dayton,Exh. 3
30 Jun Alex Mack, Charleston, Exh. 3
30 Jun Eddie Brooks, Charleston, Exh. 4
26 Jul Jimmy Ellis, Houston, KO 12
21 Aug Lancer Johnson, Caracas Exh. 4
21 Aug Eddie Brooks, Caracas Exh. 4
23 Aug Lancer Johnson, Port of Spain, Trinidad Exh. 4
23 Aug Eddie Brooks, Port of Spain, Trinidad Exh. 2
6 Nov James Summerville, Buenos Aires Exh. 5
6 Nov Miguel Paez, Buenos Aires Exh. 5
17 Nov Buster Mathis, Houston, W 12
26 DecJurgen Blin, Zurich, Switzerland KO 7
1 May George Chuvalo, Vancouver,W 12
29 Jun Jerry Quarry, Las Vegas,KO 7
1 Jul Lonnie Bennett, Los Angeles, Exh. 2
1 Jul Eddie Jones, Los Angeles, Exh. 2
1 Jul Billy Ryan, Los Angeles, Exh. 2
1 Jul Charley James, Los Angeles,Exh. 2
1 Jul Rudy Clay, Los Angeles,Exh. 2
19 Jul Al Lewis, Dublin -- KO 11
1 Aug Gregorio Peralta, Barcelona, Exh. 8
24 Aug Obie English, Baltimore, Exh. 4
24 Aug Ray Anderson, Baltimore, Exh. 2
24 Aug Alonzo Johnson, Baltimore, Exh. 2
24 Aug George Hill, Baltimore,Exh. 2
28 Aug Alonzo Johnson, Cleveland, Exh. 2
28 Aug Amos Johnson, Cleveland, Exh. 2
28 Aug Terry Daniels, Cleveland, Exh. 2
28 Aug Rodney Greene, Cleveland, 1
28 Aug Gary Dee, Cleveland, Exh. 1
20 Sep Floyd Patterson, New York, KO 7
11 Oct John Dennis, Boston, Exh. 2
11 Oct Cliff McDonald, Boston, Exh. 2
11 Oct Doug Kirk, Boston, Exh. 2
11 Oct Ray Anderson, Boston, Exh 2
11 Oct Paul Raymond, Boston, Exh 2
18 Nov Al Jones, Johannesburg, Exh. ?
21 Nov Bob Foster, Stateline, KO 8
28 Nov Charlie Boston, Salem, Exh. 2
28 Nov Jimmy Wingfield, Salem, Exh. 2
28 Nov John Jordan, Salem, Exh. 2
28 Nov Alonzo Johnson, Salem, Exh.
23 Feb Cookie Wallace, Dallas Exh. 4
31 Mar Ken Norton, San Diego, L 12
10 Sep Ken Norton, Los Angeles,W 12
20 Oct Rudi Lubbers, Jakarta W 12
1974
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
16 May Ron Lyle, Las Vegas,KO 11(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
30 Jun Joe Bugner, Kuala Lumpur W 15(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1 Oct Joe Frazier, ManilaKO 14(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
6 Dec Randy Stephens, Dallas, Exh. 3
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
30 Apr Jimmy Young, Landover, W 15 (Retained World Heavyweight Title)
24 May Richard Dunn, Munich, GermanyKO 5
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
25 Jun Antonio Inoki, Tokyo D 15
28 Sep Ken Norton, New York, W 15(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
29 Jan Walter Haines, Boston, Exh. 1
29 Jan Jerry Houston, Boston, Exh. 2
29 Jan Ron Drinkwater, Boston, Exh. 2
29 Jan Matt Ross, Boston, Exh. 2
29 Jan Frank Smith, Boston, Exh. 1
16 May Alfredo Evangelista, Landover, W 15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
29 Sep Earnie Shavers, New York 15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
14 Nov Bernardo Mercado, Bogata, Colombia Exh. 5
2 DecScott LeDoux, Chicago, Exh. 5
15 AugLeon Spinks, New Orleans, W 15(Won World Heavyweight Title)
27 May Jimmy Willis, Randers, Exh. 5
14 Jul Lyle Alzado, Denver, Exh. 8
