Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942) is a retired American boxer and former three-time World Heavyweight Champion and winner of an Olympic Light-heavyweight gold medal. In 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and the BBC. Reach (also known as wingspan) is the physical measurement of the length from one end of an individuals arms (measured at the fingertips) to the other when raised parallel to the ground at shoulder height. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Louisville redirects here. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... An Orthodox stance in boxing refers to someone who boxes right-handed as opposed to a left handed fighter who is referred to as a Southpaw. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... Boxing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since its introduction to the programme at the 1904 Summer Olympics except 1912. ... The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, were held in 1960 in Rome, Italy. ... In the 1960 Summer Olympics, Cassius Marcellus Clay, won the gold medal in the boxing light heavyweight division for the United States. ... is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other senses of these words, see boxing (disambiguation) or boxer (disambiguation). ... This is a chronological list of world heavyweight boxing champions, as recognized by the following organizations: The World Boxing Association (WBA), founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), The World Boxing Council (WBC), founded in 1963, The International Boxing Federation (IBF), founded in 1983, and The World Boxing... Poster for the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. ... The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., who was named for the 19th century abolitionist and politician Cassius Clay. Ali changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964 and subsequently converted to Islam in 1975. Louisville redirects here. ... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ... Cassius Marcellus Clay, nicknamed The Lion of Whitehall (October 19, 1810–July 22, 1903) was an emancipationist from Madison County, Kentucky, a much younger first cousin, once removed, of famous politician Henry Clay. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

Biography

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born in Louisville on January 17, 1942. His father, Clay Sr., painted billboards and signs, and his mother, Odessa Grady Clay, was a household domestic. Although Clay Sr. was a Methodist, he allowed Odessa to bring up both Clay boys as Baptists.^[1] is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr. ... Billboard redirects here. ... Odessa Grady Clay with Muhammad Ali Odessa Clay (nee Grady), (February 12 1917 - August 20 1994), born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, the daughter of John L. Grady and Birdie Morehead. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ...

Ali dropped out of Louisville Central High, a local basketball power, finishing 369th of 391 seniors in the class of 1960, and often traveling to fight on weekends. A principal named Atwood argued in his favor, stating to his colleagues that the boy should be given a Certificate of Attendance, given that "...one day he'll be making more money than everyone in this room."^{[citation needed]}

Amateur career; Olympic gold

Ali was first directed toward boxing by Louisville police officer Joe E. Martin, who encountered the twelve year old Cassius Clay fuming over his bicycle being stolen.^[2] However, without Martin knowing, he also began training with Fred Stoner at another gym. In this way, he could continue making $4 a week on Tomorrow's Champions, a TV show that Martin hosted, while benefiting from the coaching of the more-experienced Stoner, who continued working with Ali throughout his amateur career. Police officers in South Australia A police officer (or policeman/policewoman) is a warranted worker of a police force. ... Joe Elsby Martin, Sr. ...

Ali's last amateur loss was to Kent Green of Chicago, who could say he was the last person to defeat the champion until Ali lost to Joe Frazier in 1971 as a pro. Under Stoner's guidance, Muhammad Ali went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union National Title, and the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Olympics in Rome.^[3] Ali's record was 100 wins, with five losses, when he ended his amateur career. Golden Gloves The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. ... - The Amateur Athletic Union, widely known as the AAU, was formed in United States. ... In boxing, the light heavyweight division is the weight division between cruiserweight over 175 pounds (79. ... There were two Olympic Games in the year 1960: 1960 Summer Olympics 1960 Winter Olympics This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ...

Ali states (in his 1975 autobiography) that he threw his Olympic gold medal into the Ohio River after being refused service at a 'whites-only' restaurant, and fighting with a white gang. Whether this is true is still debated, although he was given a replacement medal during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he lit the torch to start the games. Gold Medal is an album by American band The Donnas, released in 2004. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ...

Early professional career

After his Olympic triumph, Ali returned to Louisville to begin his professional career. There, on October 29, 1960, he won his first professional fight, a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker, who was the police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia. is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tunney Hunsaker ( Tunney Morgan Hunsaker) (born. ... Fayetteville is a town located in Fayette County, West Virginia. ...

Standing tall, at 6-ft, 3-in (1.91 m), Ali had a highly unorthodox style for a heavyweight boxer. Rather than the normal style of carrying the hands high to defend the face, he instead relied on foot speed and quickness to avoid punches and carried his hands low.

From 1960 to 1963, the young fighter amassed a record of 19-0, with 15 knockouts. He defeated boxers such as Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, Lamar Clark (who had won his previous 40 bouts by knockout), Doug Jones and Henry Cooper. Doug Jones is the name of: Doug Jones (actor), film actor Doug Jones (boxer), former Heavyweight boxer Doug Jones (baseball), former MLB relief pitcher Douglas Jones, computer scientist and electronic voting expert Douglas Jones (professor), professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Doug Jones (Politician/Teacher... Sir Henry Cooper OBE, (born May 3, 1934) is a retired English heavyweight boxer. ...

Ali built a reputation by correctly predicting the round in which he would "finish" several opponents, and by boasting before his triumphs. Ali admitted he adopted the latter practice from "Georgeous George" Wagner, a popular professional wrestling champion in the Los Angeles area who drew thousands of fans. Often referred to as "the man you loved to hate," George could incite the crowd with a few heated remarks, and Ali followed suit. The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, (not to be confused with the Los Angeles Metro Area which only includes Los Angeles and Orange Counties) is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the county of Los Angeles, California, United States. ...

Among Ali's victims were Sonny Banks (who knocked him down during the bout), Alejandro Lavorante, and the aged Archie Moore (a boxing legend who had fought over 200 previous fights, and who had been Ali's trainer prior to Angelo Dundee). Ali had considered continuing using Moore as a trainer following the bout, but Moore had insisted that the cocky "Louisville Lip" perform training camp chores such as sweeping and dishwashing. He also considered having his idol, Sugar Ray Robinson, as a manager, but instead hired Dundee. Sonny Banks was an American boxer best known for being the first fighter to drop Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay). ... For the baseball player, see Archie Moore (baseball). ... Angelo Merena (born 1923), better known in the boxing world as Angelo Dundee, is a boxing cornerman who has worked with 15 world boxing champions, among them, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Jose Napoles, George Foreman, Jimmy Ellis, Carmen Basilio and Luis Rodriguez. ... Sugar Ray Robinson (born Walker Smith Jr. ...

Ali first met Dundee when the latter was in Louisville with light heavyweight champ Willie Pastrano. The teenaged Golden Glove winner traveled downtown to the fighter's hotel, called Dundee from the house phone, and was asked up to their room. He took advantage of the opportunity to query Dundee (who was working with, or had, champions Sugar Ramos and Carmen Basilio) about what his fighters ate, how long they slept, how much roadwork (jogging) they did, and how long they sparred. Willie Pastrano (b. ... Ultiminio Sugar Ramos was born December 2, 1941. ... Carmine Basilio (born April 2, 1927) in Canastota, New York, better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is a former boxer of Italian-American origin. ...

Following his bout with Moore, Ali won a disputed 10-round decision over Doug Jones in a matchup that was named "Fight of the Year" for 1963. Ali's next fight was against Henry Cooper, who knocked Ali down with a left hook near the end of the fourth round. The fight was stopped in the fifth due to a deep cut on Cooper's face. Sir Henry Cooper OBE, (born May 3, 1934) is a retired English heavyweight boxer. ...

Despite these close calls, Ali became the top contender for Sonny Liston's title. Despite his impressive record, however, he was not widely expected to defeat the champ. The fight was scheduled for February 25, 1964 in Miami, Florida, but was nearly canceled when the promoter, Bill Faversham, heard that Ali had been seen around Miami and in other cities with the controversial Malcolm X. The Nation of Islam, considered a "hate group" by most media and Americans in 1964, was perceived as a gate-killer to a bout where, given Liston's overwhelming status as the favorite to win (7-1 odds^[4]), had Ali's colorful persona as its sole appeal. Charles L. Sonny Liston (May 8?, 1932–December 30?, 1970) was a formidable boxer who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round. ... is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Miami redirects here. ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ...

Faversham confronted Ali about his association with Malcolm X (who, at the time, was actually under suspension by the Nation as a result of controversial comments made in the wake of President Kennedy's assassination, which he called a case of "the chickens coming home to roost"). While stopping short of admitting he was a member of the Nation, Ali protested the suggested cancellation of the fight. As a compromise, Faversham asked the fighter to delay his announcement about his conversion to Islam until after the fight. The incident is described in the 1975 book "The Greatest: My Own Story" by Ali (with Richard Durham). Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religious identity, or a change from one religious identity to another. ...

During the weigh-in on the day before the bout, the ever-boastful Ali, who frequently taunted Liston during the buildup by dubbing him "the big ugly bear" (among other things), declared that he would "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," and, summarizing his strategy for avoiding Liston's assaults, said, "Your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see."

First title fight

Main article: Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston

Ali (still known as Cassius Clay until after the bout), however, had a plan for the fight. Misreading Ali's exuberance as nervousness, Liston was typically over-confident and was unprepared for any result other than a quick knockout victory. In the opening rounds, Ali's speed kept him away from Liston's powerful head and body shots, as he used his height advantage to beat Liston to the punch with his own lightning-quick jab. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A jab A jab is one of the four main punches used in boxing, the three others being the uppercut, the hook and the cross. ...

By the third round, Ali was ahead on points and had opened a cut under Liston's eye. Liston regained some ground in the fourth, as Clay was blinded by a substance in his eyes. It is unconfirmed whether this was something used to close Liston's cuts, or deliberately applied to Liston's gloves for a nefarious purpose; however, Bert Sugar (author, boxing historian and insider) has recalled at least two other Liston fights in which a similar situation occurred, suggesting the possibility that the Liston corner deliberately attempted to cheat. Bert Randolph Sugar (born June 7, 1936 in Washington, D.C.) is a well known boxing writer. ...

Whatever the case, Liston came into the fourth round aggressively looking to put away the challenger. As Ali struggled to recover his vision, he sought to escape Liston's offensive. He was able to keep out of range until his sweat and tears rinsed the substance from his eyes, responding with a flurry of combinations near the end of the fifth round. By the sixth, he was looking for a finish and dominated Liston. Then, Liston shocked the boxing world when he failed to answer the bell for the seventh round, later claiming a shoulder injury as the reason. Muhammad Ali indeed "Shook up the world!" as he had promised.

In the rematch, which was held in May 1965 in relatively-remote Lewiston, Maine, Ali won by knockout in the first round as a result of what came to be called the "phantom punch." Many believe that Liston, possibly as a result of threats from Nation of Islam extremists, or in an attempt to "throw" the fight to pay off debts, just wanted to call it a day and waited to be counted out (see Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston). Others, however, discount both scenarios and insist that it was a quick, chopping Ali punch to the side of the head that legitimately felled Liston. The city of Lewiston to the right, with the twin-city of Auburn on the left. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Religion

Ali at an address by Elijah Muhammad

After winning the championship from Liston in 1964, Clay revealed that he was a member of the Nation of Islam (often called the Black Muslims at the time) and the Nation gave Clay the name Cassius X, discarding his surname as a symbol of his ancestors' enslavement, as had been done by other Nation members. On Friday, March 6, 1964, Malcolm X took Clay on a guided tour of the United Nations building (for a second time). Malcolm X announced that Clay would be granted his "X." That same night, Elijah Muhammad recorded a statement over the phone to be played over the radio that Clay would be renamed Muhammad (one who is worthy of praise) Ali (fourth rightly guided caliph). Only a few journalists (most notably Howard Cosell) accepted it at that time. Venerable boxing announcer Don Dunphy addressed the champion by his adopted name, as did British reporters. The adoption of this name symbolized his new identity as a member of the Nation of Islam. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3000x2409, 659 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Muhammad Ali ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3000x2409, 659 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Muhammad Ali ... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ... A Tour Guide is an occupation or vocation of someone who conducts tours usually within the tourism industry. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... For other uses, see Ali (disambiguation). ... The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs ( transliteration: ) is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first four Caliphs. ... Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen (March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist on American television. ... Don Dunphy (July 5, 1908 - July 22, 1998) was a radio sports announcer specializing in boxing broadcasts. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring...

Clay had discovered the Nation during a Golden Gloves tournament in Chicago in 1959, even writing a high school report on the organization. His school teachers at Louisville Central High were alarmed that a youngster with that much potential expressed interest in the nationalist faith. They dissuaded him from becoming involved. Many sportswriters of the early 1960s reported that it was Ali's brother, Rudy Clay, who converted to Islam first (estimating the date as 1962). Others wrote that Clay had been seen at Muslim rallies two years before he fought Liston. Ali's own version is that he did buy a copy of the "Muhammad Speaks" newspaper from a Muslim in Chicago, and a 45 rpm record by Minister Louis X (later Farrakhan) called "A White Man's Heaven is a Black Man's Hell." Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933), is the acting head of the Nation of Islam (NOI) as the National Representative of Elijah Muhammad. ...

Aligning himself with the Nation of Islam made him a lightning rod for controversy, turning the outspoken but popular former champion into one of that era's most recognizable and controversial figures. Appearing at rallies with Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad and declaring his allegiance to him at a time when mainstream America viewed them with suspicion — if not outright hostility — made Ali a target of outrage, as well as suspicion. Ali seemed at times to provoke such reactions, with viewpoints that wavered from support for civil rights to outright support of separatism. For example, Ali once stated, in relation to integration: "We who follow the teachings of Elijah Muhammad don't want to be forced to integrate. Integration is wrong. We don't want to live with the white man; that's all."^[5] And in relation to inter-racial marriage: "No intelligent black man or black woman in his or her right black mind wants white boys and white girls coming to their homes to marry their black sons and daughters."^[6] Indeed, Ali's religious beliefs at the time included the notion that the white man was "the devil" and that white people were not "righteous." Ali claimed that white people hated black people.^[7] The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... “Separatists” redirects here. ... Various Religious symbols, including (first row) Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Bahai, (second row) Islamic, tribal, Taoist, Shinto (third row) Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Jain, (fourth row) Ayyavazhi, Triple Goddess, Maltese cross, pre-Christian Slavonic Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that generally involve a faith in a spiritual... Though most indigenous Africans possess relatively dark skin, they exhibit much variation in physical appearance. ...

Ali converted from the Nation of Islam sect to mainstream Sunni Islam in 1975. In a 2004 autobiography, written with daughter Hana Yasmeen Ali, Muhammad Ali attributes his conversion to the shift toward Sunni Islam made by W.D. Muhammad after he gained control of the Nation of Islam upon the death of , Elijah Muhammad, in 1975. The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Warith Deen Muhammad The Honorable and Eminent, al-Imam Warith Deen Mohammad (born Wallace D. Muhammad on October 30, 1933) is an influential American Muslim leader. ... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ...

Vietnam War

In 1964, Ali failed the U.S. Armed Forces qualifying test because his writing and spelling skills were sub par. However, in early 1966, the tests were revised and Ali was reclassified 1A. He refused to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector, because "War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers." Ali also said in 1966: "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me nigger."^[8][9] The United States Armed Forces are the military services of the United States. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... John T. Neufeld was a WWI conscientious objector sentenced to 15 years hard labour in the military prison at Leavenworth. ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: , literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Allah is the Arabic language word for God. ... Viet Cong redirects here. ... // Nigger is a racial slur used to refer to dark-skinned people, especially those of African ancestry. ...

From his rematch with Liston in May 1965, to his final defense against Zora Folley in March 1967, he successfully defended his title nine times, an active schedule for that period. Ali was scheduled to fight WBA champion Ernie Terrell in a unification bout in Toronto on March 29, but Terrell backed out and Ali won a 15-round decision against substitute opponent George Chuvalo. He then went to England and defeated Henry Cooper and Brian London by stoppage on cuts. Ali's next defense was against German southpaw Karl Mildenberger, the first German to fight for the title since Max Schmeling. In one of the tougher fights of his life, Ali stopped his opponent in round 12. Zora Folley (1932–July 9, 1972) was an African-American heavyweight boxer. ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... Ernie Terrell (born on April 4, 1939 in Belzoni, Mississippi) is an American singer, record producer, and former World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight boxing champion. ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... George Chuvalo, CM (born September 12, 1937) is a Canadian heavyweight boxer who was never knocked down in ninety-three professional fights between 1956 and 1979. ... Sir Henry Cooper OBE, (born May 3, 1934) is a retired English heavyweight boxer. ... Brian London whos real name is Brian Harper. ... Karl Mildenberger (born Kaiserslautern 23rd November 1937) is a retired German heavyweight boxer. ... Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling (September 28, 1905 – February 2, 2005) was a German boxer whose two fights with Joe Louis transcended boxing and became worldwide social events because of their racial and national associations. ...

Ali returned to the United States in November 1966 to fight Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams in the Houston Astrodome. A year and a half before the fight, Williams had been shot in the stomach at point-blank range by a Texas policeman. As a result, Williams went into the fight missing one kidney and 10 feet of his small intestine, and with a shriveled left leg from nerve damage from the bullet. Ali beat Williams in three rounds. Cleveland Big Cat Williams (June 6, 1933–September 3, 1999) was an American heavyweight boxer who fought in the 1950s through the 1970s. ... The Reliant Astrodome, formerly just the Astrodome, is a domed sports stadium in Houston, Texas, and is part of the Reliant Park complex. ... In external ballistics, point-blank range is the distance between a firearm and a target of a given size such that the bullet in flight is expected to strike the target at the point of aim without adjusting the elevation of the firearm (see also gun). ... In biology the small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract (gut) between the stomach and the large intestine and includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. ...

On February 6, 1967, Ali returned to a Houston boxing ring to fight Terrell in what became one of the uglier fights in boxing. Terrell had angered Ali by calling him Clay, and the champion vowed to punish him for this insult. During the fight, Ali kept shouting at his opponent, "What's my name, Uncle Tom ... What's my name?" Terrell suffered 15 rounds of brutal punishment, losing 13 rounds on two judges' scorecards, but Ali did not knock him out. Analysts, including several who spoke to ESPN on the sports channel's "Ali Rap" special, speculated that the fight continued only because Ali wanted to thoroughly punish and humiliate Terrell. After the fight, Tex Maule wrote, "It was a wonderful demonstration of boxing skill and a barbarous display of cruelty." is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Houston redirects here. ... The boxing ring is the space in which a boxing match occurs. ... This article is about the racial term. ... ESPN, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... Hamilton Prieleaux Bee Maule, commonly known as Tex Maule (May 19, 1915 in Ojus, Florida — May 16, 1981) was the lead American football writer for Sports Illustrated in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. ...

Appearing for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces on April 28, 1967 in Houston, he refused three times to step forward at the call of his name. An officer warned him he was committing a felony punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Once more Ali refused to budge when his name was called. is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ...

That day, the New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license and stripped him of his title. Other boxing commissions followed suit. This article is about the state. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

At the trial two months later, the jury, after only 21 minutes of deliberation, found Ali guilty. The judge imposed the maximum sentence. After a court of appeals upheld the conviction, the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. During this time, people turned against the war, and support for Ali grew. Ali financially supported himself by opening a restaurant chain called "Champburger" and visiting many college universities to give speeches across the country. Joe Frazier, who had become champion during Ali's absence from the ring, often gave financial assistance to Ali during this time. Court of Appeals or (outside the U.S. and in some American states) Court of Appeal is the title of a court which has the power to consider or hear an appeal. ... For the Major League Baseball player and manager, see Joe Frazier (baseball) Joseph William Smokin Joe Frazier (born January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina) is a former world heavyweight boxing champion, active mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. ...

The Fight of the Century

Main article: Fight of the Century

In 1970, Ali was allowed to fight again. With the help of a state senator, he was granted a license to box in Georgia because it was the only state in America without a boxing commission. In October 1970, he stopped Jerry Quarry on a cut after three rounds. Shortly after the Quarry fight, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Ali had been unjustly denied a boxing license. Once again able to fight in New York, he fought Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden in December 1970. After a tough 14 rounds, Ali stopped Bonavena in the 15th, paving the way for a title fight against Joe Frazier, who had acquired the title during Ali's absence and was himself undefeated. The 1971, March 8th edition of Time Magazine Fight of the Century was the promotional nickname given to the first boxing match between champion Joe Frazier (26-0, 23 KOs) and challenger Muhammad Ali (31-0, 26 KOs), held on March 8, 1971 at New Yorks Madison Square Garden. ... A State Senator is a member of a state Senate, the upper legislative chamber in the government of a U.S. state. ... Jerry Quarry Irish Jerry Quarry (May 15, 1945 - January 3, 1999) was called by some the best heavyweight boxer to never win a world title. ... New York County Supreme Court building at 60 Centre Street, from across Foley Square The Supreme Court of the State of New York is one of several New York State trial courts in which cases originate. ... The Ali vs. ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... For the Major League Baseball player and manager, see Joe Frazier (baseball) Joseph William Smokin Joe Frazier (born January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina) is a former world heavyweight boxing champion, active mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. ...

Ali and Frazier met in the ring on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden. The fight, known as '"The Fight of the Century," was one of the most eagerly anticipated bouts of all time and remains one of the most famous. It featured two skilled, undefeated fighters, both of whom had legitimate claims to the heavyweight crown. The fight lived up to the hype, and Frazier punctuated his victory by flooring Ali with a hard left hook in the 15th and final round. Frank Sinatra — unable to acquire a ringside seat — took photos of the match for Life Magazine. Legendary boxing announcer Don Dunphy and actor and boxing aficionado Burt Lancaster called the action for the broadcast, which reached millions of people. is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... The 1971, March 8th edition of Time Magazine Fight of the Century was the promotional nickname given to the first boxing match between champion Joe Frazier (26-0, 23 KOs) and challenger Muhammad Ali (31-0, 26 KOs), held on March 8, 1971 at New Yorks Madison Square Garden. ... Sinatra redirects here. ... A cover of Life Magazine from 1911 Life has been the name of two notable magazines published in the United States. ... Don Dunphy (July 5, 1908 - July 22, 1998) was a radio sports announcer specializing in boxing broadcasts. ... Burt Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an Oscar-winning American film actor, noted for his athletic physique (a rare thing for leading men of that time), distinct smile (which he called The Grin) and, later, his willingness to play roles that went against his initial tough guy...

Frazier retained the title on a unanimous decision, dealing Ali his first professional loss. However, Ali won a more important victory on June 28, 1971, when the Supreme Court reversed his conviction for refusing induction by unanimous decision in Clay v. United States. is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The Supreme Court of the United States (sometimes colloquially referred to by the... Holding Since the Appeal Board gave no reason for the denial of a conscientious objector exemption to petitioner, and it is impossible to determine on which of the three grounds offered in the Justice Departments letter that board relied, petitioners conviction must be reversed. ...

In 1973, after a string of victories over top heavyweight opposition in a campaign to force a rematch with Frazier, Ali split two bouts with Ken Norton (in the bout that Ali lost to Norton, Ali suffered a broken jaw), before beating Frazier (who had lost the title to George Foreman) on points in their 1974 rematch, to earn another title shot -- but this time against a seemingly-invincible Foreman. This article is about the hall of fame boxer. ... Ali-Frazier II was a boxing fight that took place at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, on January 28 of 1974. ...

The Rumble in the Jungle

Main article: The Rumble in the Jungle

Ali regained his title on October 30, 1974 by defeating champion George Foreman in their bout in Kinshasa, Zaire. Hyped as "The Rumble In The Jungle," the fight was promoted by Don King. The Rumble in The Jungle was an historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the May 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). ... is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949) is an American two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. ... Kinshasa (formerly Léopoldville) is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ... The Rumble in The Jungle was an historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the May 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). ... Don King Wax Sculpture Donald Don King (born December 6, 1931), is a successful American boxing promoter particularly known for his hairstyle and flamboyant personality. ...

Almost no one, not even Ali's long-time supporter Howard Cosell, gave the former champion a chance of winning. Analysts pointed out that Joe Frazier and Ken Norton had given Ali four tough battles in the ring and won two of them, while Foreman had knocked out both of them in the second round. Howard William Cosell, born Howard William Cohen (March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist on American television. ... For the Major League Baseball player and manager, see Joe Frazier (baseball) Joseph William Smokin Joe Frazier (born January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina) is a former world heavyweight boxing champion, active mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. ... This article is about the hall of fame boxer. ...

During the bout, Ali employed an unexpected strategy. Leading up to the fight he had declared he was going to "dance" and use his speed to keep away from Foreman and outbox him. However, in the first round, Ali headed straight for the champion and began scoring with a right hand lead, clearly surprising Foreman. Ali caught Foreman nine times in the first round with this technique but failed to knock him out. He then decided to take advantage of the young champion's weakness: staying power. Foreman had won 37 of his 40 bouts by knockout, most within three rounds, with Foreman's eight previous bouts not going past the second round. Ali saw an opportunity to outlast Foreman, and capitalized on it.

In the second round, the challenger retreated to the ropes inviting Foreman to hit him, while counterpunching and verbally taunting the younger man. Ali's plan was to enrage Foreman and absorb his best blows to exhaust him mentally and physically. While Foreman threw wide shots to Ali's body, Ali countered with stinging straight punches to Foreman's head. Foreman threw hundreds of punches in seven rounds, but with decreasing technique and effectiveness. Ali's tactic of leaning on the ropes, covering up, and absorbing body shots was later termed "The Rope-A-Dope." Rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting style used most famously by Muhammad Ali (who coined the term) in the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. ...

By the end of the seventh round, Foreman was exhausted. In the eighth round, Ali dropped Foreman with a combination at center ring and Foreman failed to make the count. Against the odds, Ali had regained the title. Foreman would become champ again at age 45, and Muhammad Ali, his best friend, however, did not attend the bout. When asked why, he said "I would deviate attention from George. It was his moment, not mine." Many praised Ali for his thoughtfulness and respect towards Mr. Foreman.

The "Rumble in the Jungle" was the subject of a 1996 Academy Award winning documentary film, When We Were Kings. The match was ranked seventh in the British television program The 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in (what was then called) Zaïre (now called the Congo, all references are to Zaire) on October 30, 1974. ... British television broadcasting has a range of different broadcasters, broadcasting multiple channels over a variety of distribution media. ... The 100 Greatest Sporting Moments was a British television programme in the 100 Greatest / 100 Worst strand on Channel 4. ...

Second reign

Ali would defend his title successfully from March 1975 (a bout against the "Bayonne Bleeder" Chuck Wepner) until his rematch with Leon Spinks in 1978. George Foreman would remain dormant for most of 1975 before resuming his career in 1976. Despite much publicity, a rematch between Ali and Foreman never materialized, and following a 1977 decision loss to Jimmy Young, who did manage to knock him down, Foreman had a religious experience and subsequently stopped fighting without officially announcing a retirement. Chuck Wepner (born February 26, 1939) is a former heavyweight boxer from Bayonne, New Jersey. ... Chuck Wepner (born February 26, 1939) is a former heavyweight boxer, of Bayonne, New Jersey. ... There are a number of famous people of this name including: Jimmy Young (boxer) Jimmy Young (disc jockey) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In March 1975, Ali faced Chuck Wepner in a bout that inspired the original Rocky movie. While it was largely thought that Ali would dominate, Wepner surprised everyone by not only knocking Ali down in the ninth round, but nearly going the distance. Ali eventually stopped Wepner in the fading minutes of the 15th round, but Wepner's display of courage and resilience gave Sylvester Stallone, then an aspiring writer, actor and director, the basis of the plot for the first Rocky movie, which led to five sequels that have endured for 30 years. In May 1975, Ali faced Ron Lyle, who lost by technical knockout in the 11th round after a barrage of punches by Ali. Two months later, in July 1975, Ali won a 15-round decision against Joe Bugner who was criticized by the press for resorting to defensive tactics rather than mounting an attack. Chuck Wepner (born February 26, 1939) is a former heavyweight boxer, of Bayonne, New Jersey. ... For other uses, see Rocky (disambiguation). ... Sylvester Stallone (born Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone on July 6, 1946) is a two-time Academy Award-nominated American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. ... For other uses, see Rocky (disambiguation). ... Ron Lyle (born February 12, 1941) was a professional boxer. ... Joe Bugner born (March 13, 1950 in Szőreg, Hungary) was a British and Australian heavyweight boxer. ...

Thrilla in Manila

In October 1975, Ali fought Joe Frazier for the third time. The bout was promoted as the Thrilla in Manila by Don King, who had ascended to prominence following the Ali-Foreman fight. The anticipation was enormous for this final clash between two great heavyweights. Ali believed Frazier was "over the hill" by that point, and his overconfidence may have caused him to train less than he could have. Ali's frequent insults, slurs and demeaning poems increased the anticipation and excitement for the fight, but also enraged a determined Frazier. Regarding the fight Ali famously remarked, "It'll be a chilla, and a killa, and a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila." For the Major League Baseball player and manager, see Joe Frazier (baseball) Joseph William Smokin Joe Frazier (born January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, South Carolina) is a former world heavyweight boxing champion, active mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. ... The Thrilla in Manila was a famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City of the Philippines on October 1, 1975. ... Don King Wax Sculpture Donald Don King (born December 6, 1931), is a successful American boxing promoter particularly known for his hairstyle and flamboyant personality. ...

The fight lasted 14 grueling rounds in temperatures approaching 100F. Ali won many of the early rounds, but Frazier staged a comeback in the middle rounds. By the late rounds, however, Ali had reasserted control and the fight was stopped when Frazier was unable to answer the bell for the 15th and final round (his eyes were swollen closed). Frazier's trainer, Eddie Futch, refused to allow Frazier to continue. Ali was quoted after the fight as saying "This must be what death feels like" and congratulated Frazier on his gutsy effort.

Late career

In early 1976, Ali would go on to face journeymen fighters such as Jean Pierre Coopman and Richard Dunn (Ali's last knockout of his career), winning easy decisions. In April 1976, an out-of-shape Ali out pointed the tough, young brawler Jimmy Young, who had recently beaten George Foreman by decision and made Ali appear slow and immobile. Richard Dunn (born January 19th 1945) is an English boxer who unsuccessfully fought Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title in 1976. ... There are a number of famous people of this name including: Jimmy Young (boxer) Jimmy Young (disc jockey) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949) is an American two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. ...

Ali's next match after Dunn was a June 25th exhibition against the Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki. ^[10]Although widely perceived as a publicity stunt, the match would have a long-term detrimental affect on Ali's mobility. Inoki spent much of the fight on the ground trying to damage Ali’s legs, while Ali spent most of the fight dodging the kicks or staying on the ropes.^[11] At the end of 15 rounds, the bout was called a draw. Ali's legs, however, were bleeding, leading to an infection. He suffered two blood clots in his legs as well.^[10] Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ...

Nevertheless, in September, at Yankee Stadium, Ali faced Ken Norton in their third fight, with Ali winning a close 15-round decision. This is about the stadium the New York Yankees currently play in. ... This article is about the hall of fame boxer. ...

In 1977, Ali faced only two opponents, defeating both by decision: the undistinguished Alfredo Evangelista, who gave Ali another 15-round challenge, and the devastating puncher Earnie Shavers, who nearly knocked him out in the second round. Shavers would be Ali's final successful defense of his heavyweight title. Following the fight, Ali's corner doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, left Ali's entourage when it became clear to him that boxing was taking a significant toll on Ali, both physically and mentally. He made his decision when his warnings to Ali to retire went unheeded. Alfredo Evangelista (Montevideo, Uruguay - December 3, 1954), was a former uruguayan-spaniard boxer. ... Earnie Dee Shaver better known as Earnie Shavers (born August 31, 1945) was a professional boxer. ... Ferdie Pacheco was a Showtime boxing analyst and painter who was earlier the physician to Muhammad Ali. ...

Olympic champion Leon Spinks finally dethroned Ali by decision in February 1978. The fight was criticized by many fans, since Spinks was a relative rookie with only seven professional bouts in his career. However, Ali reclaimed his title for an unprecedented third time in their September 1978 rematch and then retired at age 37. He returned, however, to face new champion Larry Holmes in 1980. Despite Ali's claim that Holmes would be "mine in nine" it soon became clear he had nothing left and was given a sound beating by Holmes. Angelo Dundee refused to let his man come out for the 11th round, in what became Ali's first and only loss by anything other than a decision. Ali's final fight, a loss by unanimous decision after 10 rounds, was to up-and-coming challenger Trevor Berbick in 1981. Leon Spinks (born July 11, 1953 in St. ... For the politician and activist, see Larry Holmes (Marxist). ... Trevor Berbick Trevor Berbick (August 1, 1955 – October 28, 2006) was a Jamaican heavyweight boxer whose professional career spanned 1976 until 2000. ...

Ali's legacy

The torch Ali used to light the flame at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Muhammad Ali defeated almost every top heavyweight in his era, which has been called the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Ali was named "Fighter of the Year" by Ring Magazine more times than any other fighter, and was involved in more Ring Magazine "Fight of the Year" bouts than any other fighter. He is an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and holds wins over seven other Hall of Fame inductees. He is also one of only three boxers to be named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated. He is regarded as one of the best pound for pound boxers in history. He was a masterful self-promoter, and his psychological tactics before, during, and after fights became legendary. It was his athleticism and boxing skill, however, that enabled him to scale the heights and sustain his position for so many years. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x824, 106 KB)[edit] Summary The Olympic Torch Muhammad Ali used in Atlanta 1996. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x824, 106 KB)[edit] Summary The Olympic Torch Muhammad Ali used in Atlanta 1996. ... The 1996 Summer h Olympics, formally known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and informally known as the Centennial Olympics, were held in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. ... Front cover of the first issue of The Ring The Ring (often called Ring Magazine) is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. ... The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ... Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the Sportsman of the Year award to the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement. ... The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Mathews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ... Pound-for-pound is the term used in boxing, mixed martial arts and other combat sports to describe a fighters value in relation to fighters of different weight classes. ...

In 1978, three years before Ali's permanent retirement, the Board of Aldermen in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky voted 6–5 to rename Walnut Street to Muhammad Ali Boulevard. This was controversial at the time, as within a week 12 of the 70 street signs were stolen. Earlier that year, a committee of the Jefferson County Public Schools considered renaming Central High School in his honor, but the motion failed to pass. At any rate, in time, Muhammad Ali Boulevard—and Ali himself—came to be well accepted in his hometown.^[12] The Louisville Board of Alderman consisted of 12 wards and was the legislative branch of government for the City of Louisville prior to the merger of Louisville, Kentucky and Jefferson County in 2003. ... Louisville redirects here. ... Unused traffic signs in Austria Most countries post signage, known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of roads to impart information to road users. ... Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is a school system located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, which is contiguous with present-day Louisville. ... Formally known as Louisville Central High School Magnet Career Academy, Central High School is a public high school in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A. // Specializing in preparing students for professional careers, Central offers many magnet programs. ...

He was the recipient of the 1997 Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an award that is part of the ESPY Awards. ...

In retirement

In 1982, Ali discovered he had Parkinson's disease, a neurological syndrome characterized by tremors, rigidity of muscles and slowness of speech and movement, following which his motor functions began a slow decline. Although Ali's doctors disagreed about whether his symptoms were caused by boxing and whether or not his condition was degenerative, he was ultimately diagnosed with Pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome.^[13] According to the documentary When We Were Kings, when Ali was asked about whether he has any regrets about boxing due to his disability, he responded that if he didn't box he would still be a painter in Louisville, Kentucky. Pugilistic Parkinsons syndrome is a disorder that occurs among professional boxers who receive multiple blows to the head. ... When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in (what was then called) Zaïre (now called the Congo, all references are to Zaire) on October 30, 1974. ... Louisville redirects here. ...

A recent photograph of Ali

Despite the disability, he remains a beloved and active public figure. Recently he was voted into Forbes Celebrity 100 coming in at number 13 behind Donald Trump. In 1985, he served as a guest referee at the inaugural WrestleMania event. In 1987 he was selected by the California Bicentennial Foundation for the U.S. Constitution to personify the vitality of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in various high profile activities. Ali rode on a float at the 1988 Tournament of Roses Parade, launching the U.S. Constitution's 200th birthday commemoration. He also published an oral history, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser, in 1991. Ali received a Spirit of America Award calling him the most recognized American in the world. In 1996, he had the honor of lighting the flame at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Muhammad Ali cropped from government photo File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Muhammad Ali cropped from government photo File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Public figure is a legal term applied in the context of defamation actions (libel and slander). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York, New York) is an American business executive, entrepreneur, television and radio personality and author. ... WrestleMania (chronologically known as WrestleMania I) was the first WrestleMania professional wrestling event from the World Wrestling Federation, which took place on March 31, 1985 in New York, New York at the world-famous Madison Square Garden. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... The United States Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. ... A float from the 2004 Rose Parade A close up of roses used to create a rose bowl parade float. ... Oral history is an account of something passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. ... The 1996 Summer h Olympics, formally known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and informally known as the Centennial Olympics, were held in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. ... Atlanta redirects here. ...

The Muhammad Ali Center, alongside Interstate 64 on Louisville's riverfront

He has appeared at the 1998 AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final, where Anthony Pratt invited him to watch the game. He also greets runners at the start line of the Los Angeles Marathon every year. Image File history File links AliCenter. ... Image File history File links AliCenter. ... The Muhammad Ali Center, a tribute to the man and his values, is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2005, in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 64 Interstate 64 (abbreviated I-64) is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. ... Louisville redirects here. ... This article is about the national league in Australian rules football. ... Part of the pre-match entertainment at the 2006 AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. ... Anthony Pratt may be: Anthony Pratt (Visy Board), executive Anthony D. G. Pratt, art director Anthony E. Pratt, inventor of the board game Clue This human name article is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that might otherwise share the same title, which is a persons or persons... The Los Angeles Marathon is an annual marathon held in Los Angeles, California since 1986. ...

In 1999, Ali received a special one-off award from the BBC at its annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award ceremony, namely the BBC Sports Personality of the Century Award in which he received more votes than the other four contenders combined. His daughter Laila Ali also became a boxer in 1999, despite her father's earlier comments against female boxing in 1978: "Women are not made to be hit in the breast, and face like that... the body's not made to be punched right here [patting his chest]. Get hit in the breast... hard... and all that." For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... The BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is given to one sportsman or sportswoman, usually British, every year. ... Laila Ali (born December 30, 1977 in Miami Beach) is the daughter of Muhammad Ali and his third wife Veronica Porsche Ali. ...

On September 13, 1999, Ali was named "Kentucky Athlete of the Century" by the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in ceremonies at the Galt House East.^[14] is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The Galt House stands on Fourth Street, by the Ohio River The Galt House is a famous 25-story, 1,300-room hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. ...

Ali's Presidential Medal of Freedom on display at the Ali Centre

In 2001, a biographical film, entitled Ali, was made, with Will Smith starring as Ali. The film received mixed reviews, with the positives generally attributed to the acting, as Smith and supporting actor Jon Voight earned Academy Award nominations. Prior to making the Ali movie, Will Smith had continually rejected the role of Ali until Muhammad Ali personally requested that he accept the role. According to Smith, the first thing Ali said about the subject to Smith was: "You ain't pretty enough to play me." Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x901, 98 KB)[edit] Summary Muhammad Alis medal of freedom, Photo snapped by Bryan Bush and given to me to upload under GFDL. I cropped, reduced and sharpened the image, and release changes under GFDL. [edit] Licensing I, the creator... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x901, 98 KB)[edit] Summary Muhammad Alis medal of freedom, Photo snapped by Bryan Bush and given to me to upload under GFDL. I cropped, reduced and sharpened the image, and release changes under GFDL. [edit] Licensing I, the creator... The Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States and is bestowed by the President of the United States (the other award which is considered its equivalent is the Congressional Gold Medal, which is bestowed by an... The Muhammad Ali Center, a tribute to the man and his values, is scheduled to open in