History UsefulNotes / MuhammadAli

In the final years of his career, Ali was already showing early signs of Parkinson's syndrome. In retirement, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. Sadly, Ali went down for the count for the last time when he passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 3, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74 years old, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.'' (Perhaps the most famous other celebrity with the condition is Creator/MichaelJFox, who as of 2018 has battled the condition for 27 years.)

Aside from his achievements in the ring, Ali was a noted philanthropist and social activist. His name change came from his conversion to the Nation of Islam, and he was good friends with UsefulNotes/MalcolmX (he would convert to orthodox [[UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} Sunni Islam]] in 1975, just over ten years after Malcolm X, and would later become interested in the Sufi teachings of Inayat Khan).[[note]]Ali did not, as is commonly reported, "convert" to Sufism; he never made any pledge to a ''murshid'' (and in fact turned down the opportunity more than once) and never affiliated with any Sufi organization more than casually.[[/note]] Lesser known are his contributions to his hometown of Louisville, which has come to embrace him wholeheartedly.[[labelnote:Meaningless aside]]The other really famous person of the era from Louisville, Creator/HunterSThompson, was a very big fan, and got unusually full access to him before one of his early 1970s fights.[[/labelnote]]

In the final years of his career, Ali was already showing early signs of Parkinson's syndrome. In retirement, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. Sadly, Ali went down for the count for the last time when he passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 3, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74 years old, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.''

Along the way, Ali won the heavyweight championship three times, defeated every top heavyweight contender from 1964 to 1975, and is often regarded as one of the greatest (if not ''the'' greatest) boxers of all time. Although he fought with an orthodox stance, Ali fought with an unorthodox style, relying on his agility to dodge punches, rather than blocking them outright, and possessed incredible hand speed and stamina. He also had one of the best chins in boxing history. Ali was a master of the psychological elements of boxing, frequently taunting his opponents and 'calling' his knockouts (by stating the round he believed the KO would happen before the fight).

This was probably the point where Ali should have called it quits with boxing. However, his ego and his ongoing need for money (years of profligate spending and costly divorces had eaten up the millions he earned in the ring) meant he carried on fighting. There was also an ill-advised and farcical fight against martial artist and wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976.[[note]]The contest did have more serious consequences for Ali; Inoki spent the entire bout on his back kicking Ali's leg kicks, leaving Ali with several blood clots, which went untreated until he eventually had to be hospitalized[[/note]] By now Ali's speed and reflexes had noticeably diminished and he began to take more punishment. He nevertheless kept on winning fights thanks to his bravery and ring smarts, some careful matchmaking, and at times some questionable judging. He did make history in 1978 by becoming the first three-time heavyweight champion, after losing his title to the inexperienced Leon Spinks and then winning it back six months later. This was followed by a misguided comeback attempt in 1980, this time against his [[TheApprentice former sparring partner]] (and now champion) Larry Holmes. It soon became obvious that Ali had nothing left and the result was a [[CurbStompBattle one-sided beating]] which ended when Ali's corner threw in the towel after the tenth round, the only the time Ali was stopped in a fight. Ali finally retired in 1981 following a loss to journeyman Trevor Berbick.

This was probably the point where Ali should have called it quits with boxing. However, his ego and his ongoing need for money (years of profligate spending and costly divorces had eaten up the millions he earned in the ring) meant he carried on fighting. This also led to an ill-advised fight with a martial artist Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976, which left Ali with bad leg injuries. By now Ali's speed and reflexes had noticeably diminished and he began to take more punishment, winning fights with ring smarts and at times some questionable judging. He did make history in 1978 by becoming the first three-time heavyweight champion, after losing his title to the inexperienced Leon Spinks and then winning it back six months later. This was followed by a misguided comeback attempt in 1980, this time against his [[TheApprentice former sparring partner]] (and now champion) Larry Holmes. It soon became obvious that Ali had nothing left and the result was a [[CurbStompBattle one-sided beating]] which ended when Ali's corner threw in the towel after the tenth round, the only the time Ali was stopped in a fight. Ali finally retired in 1981 following a loss to journeyman Trevor Berbick.

Ali was also quite TheCasanova with a [[AnythingThatMoves legendary appetite]] for women. He was married four times: to Sonji Roi (1964-66), Belinda Boyd (1967-77), Veronica Porché (1977-86) and Lonnie Williams (1986-2016) and also had [[YourCheatingHeart countless extra-marital affairs]]. He once notoriously introduced his mistress (and future wife) Veronica as his wife to UsefulNotes/FerdinandMarcos, prompting a very public row with his actual wife Belinda. His numerous marriages and affairs produced at least seven daughters and a son.[[note]]Belinda suspected there were more[[/note]] He later adopted another son with Lonnie. His daughter, Laila Ali, also became a professional boxer (against her father's wishes) and once fought Joe Frazier's daughter Jackie.

Along the way, Ali won three heavyweight titles, defeated every top heavyweight contender from 1964 to 1975, and earned the distinction of being called one of the greatest boxers (if not ''the'' greatest) of all time. Although he fought with an orthodox stance, Ali fought with an unorthodox style, relying on his agility to dodge punches, rather than blocking them outright, and possessed incredible hand speed and stamina. Ali was also a hard puncher, as his 37 knockouts can attest. He was also a master of the psychological elements of boxing, frequently taunting his opponents and 'calling' his knockouts (by stating the round he believed the KO would happen before the fight).

Aside from his achievements in the ring, Ali was a noted philanthropist and social activist. His name change came from his conversion to the Nation of Islam, and he was good friends with UsefulNotes/MalcolmX (he would convert to orthodox [[UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} Sunni Islam]] in 1975, just over ten years after Malcolm X, and would later become interested in the Sufi teachings of Inayat Khan).[[note]]Ali did not, as is commonly reported, "convert" to Sufism; he never made any pledge to a ''murshid'' (and in fact turned down the opportunity more than once) and never affiliated with any Sufi organization more than casually.[[/note]] Ali was convicted of draft resistance in 1967 due to his refusal to fight in Vietnam (although in all likelihood, he would have served his time entertaining troops in exhibition matches like Joe Louis did in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII), and referred to himself as a 'conscientious objector'. His boxing license was suspended, causing his involuntary hiatus for three years before the US Supreme Court overturned his conviction and he was reinstated. Lesser known are his contributions to his hometown of Louisville, which has come to embrace him wholeheartedly.[[labelnote:Meaningless aside]]The other really famous person of the era from Louisville, Creator/HunterSThompson, was a very big fan, and got unusually full access to him before one of his early 1970s fights.[[/labelnote]]

Ali finally returned to the ring in 1970 with comeback victories over contenders Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena before facing off against new champion Joe Frazier in a huge event billed as the "Fight of the Century". The fight lived up to its billing and Frazier won a hard-fought 15 round decision, handing Ali his first loss. Ali got another chance to reclaim the title in 1974 when he took on [[TheDreaded George Foreman]], who had easily knocked out Ali's two conquerors Frazier and Ken Norton in two rounds apiece, in a championship bout staged in Zaire that Ali nicknamed "The Rumble in the Jungle." In that fight, depicted in the Oscar winning documentary, ''When We Were Kings'', showed that although Ali had slowed down, he was able to outwit the younger challenger with his famous rope-a-dope strategy to wear Foreman until Ali downed him like a oak tree. A year later Ali faced his old rival Frazier for a third time, the so-called "Thrilla in Manila". Fought in tropical conditions, the fight was among the most brutal in boxing history. The action went back and forth, and Ali would later say he felt as if he was close to death. He eventually won when Frazier's cornerman refused to let their man come out for the final round.

This was probably the point where Ali should have called it quits with boxing. However, ego and his continued need for money (years of profligate spending and costly divorces had eaten up the millions he had earned in the ring) meant he carried on fighting. This also led to an ill-advised fight with a martial artist in Tokyo in 1976. By now Ali's speed and reflexes had noticeably diminished and he began to take more punishment, winning fights with ring smarts and at times some questionable judging. He did make history in 1978 by becoming the first three-time heavyweight champion, after losing his title to the inexperienced Leon Spinks and then winning it back six months later. This was followed by another misguided comeback in 1980, this time against his [[TheApprentice one-time sparring partner]] Larry Holmes. It soon became obvious that Ali had nothing left and the result was a [[CurbStompBattle one-sided beating]] which ended when Ali's corner refused to let him come out for the eleventh round, the only the time Ali was stopped in a fight. Ali finally retired in 1981 following a loss to journeyman Trevor Berbick.

Along the way, Ali won three heavyweight titles, defeated every top heavyweight contender from 1964 to 1975, and earned the distinction of being called one of the greatest boxers (if not ''the'' greatest) of all time. Although he fought with an orthodox stance, Ali fought with an unorthodox style, relying on his agility to dodge punches, rather than blocking them outright, and possessed incredible hand speed and stamina. Ali was also a hard puncher, as his 37 knockouts can attest. He was also a master of the psychological elements of boxing, frequently taunting his opponents and 'calling' his knockouts (by stating the round he believed the KO would happen before the fight). In the latter half of his career, Ali slowed and began to demonstrate his ability to hang in with tougher punches. Along with an ill-advised fight with a martial artist, misdiagnosis of a thyroid condition, and misguided attempts to fight top heavyweights while far removed from his prime, this contributed to Ali's decline and later Parkinson's disease.

Eventually, Ali had his shot to reclaim his title in 1974 when he took George Foreman in a championship bout staged in Zaire that Ali nicknamed "The Rumble in the Jungle." In that fight, depicted in the Oscar winning documentary, ''When We Were Kings'', showed that although Ali had slowed down, he was able to outwit the younger challenger with his famous rope-a-dope strategy to wear Foreman until Ali downed him like a oak tree.

In his later years, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. Sadly, Ali went down for the count for the last time when he passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 3, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74 years old, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.''

A womanizer with [[AnythingThatMoves a legendary appetite]], Ali was married four times: to Sonji Roi (1964-66), Belinda Boyd (1967-77), Veronica Porché (1977-86) and Lonnie Williams (1986-2016) and also had [[YourCheatingHeart countless extra-marital affairs]]. He once notoriously introduced his mistress (and future wife) Veronica as his wife to UsefulNotes/FerdinandMarcos, prompting a very public row with his actual wife Belinda. His numerous marriages and affairs produced at least seven daughters and a son.[[note]]Belinda suspected there were more[[/note]] He later adopted another son with Lonnie. His daughter, Laila Ali, also became a professional boxer (against her father's wishes) and once fought Joe Frazier's daughter Jackie.

A womanizer with [[AnythingThatMoves a legendary appetite]], Ali was married four times: to Sonji Roi (1964-66), Belinda Boyd (1967-77), Veronica Porché (1977-86) and Lonnie Williams (1986-2016) and also had [[YourCheatingHeart countless extra-marital affairs]]. He once notoriously introduced his mistress (and future wife) Veronica as his wife to UsefulNotes/FerdinandMarcos, prompting a very public row with his actual wife Belinda. His numerous marriages and affairs produced at least eight daughters and a son[[note]]Belinda suspected there were more[[/note]]. He later adopted another son with Lonnie. His daughter, Laila Ali, also became a professional boxer (against her father's wishes) and once fought Joe Frazier's daughter Jackie.

His daughter, Laila Ali, is also a boxer.

'''Muhammad Ali''' (born '''Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.''', January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, generally regarded as the most significant heavyweight in the history of the sport. In his career, Ali was known for combining strength, skill, brilliant tactics, and elegant but incredible braggadocio. He was named "Sportsman of the Century" by ''Magazine/SportsIllustrated'' in 1999. He took up boxing as a teenager after a police officer and boxing coach advised the 12-year-old Clay to learn how to box before he tried to "whup" the guy who stole his bike. Fighting for several years as an amateur, he won gold at the 1960 Summer UsefulNotes/OlympicGames in Rome at the age of 18; he decided to leverage that medal into a professional career. He fought professionally for 18 years (with a three-year sabbatical when his license was suspended due to draft resistance. The U.S. Supreme Court would overturn his conviction) in 61 bouts, retiring with 56 wins, 37 by way of knockout. Three of his five losses came in the last three years of his career, when he was well past his prime and starting to show early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Aside from his achievements in the ring, Ali was a noted philanthropist and social activist. His name change came from his conversion to the Nation of Islam, and he was good friends with UsefulNotes/MalcolmX (he would convert to orthodox [[UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} Sunni Islam]] in 1975, just over ten years after Malcolm X, and would later become a Sufi). Ali was convicted of draft resistance in 1967 due to his refusal to fight in Vietnam (although in all likelihood, he would have served his time entertaining troops in exhibition matches like Joe Louis did in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII), and referred to himself as a 'conscientious objector'. His boxing license was suspended, causing his involuntary hiatus for three years before the US Supreme Court overturned his conviction and he was reinstated. Lesser known are his contributions to his hometown of Louisville, which has come to embrace him wholeheartedly.[[labelnote:Meaningless aside]]The other really famous person of the era from Louisville, Creator/HunterSThompson, was a very big fan, and got unusually full access to him before one of his early 1970s fights.[[/labelnote]]

* ''Film/{{Ali}}'' is a biopic about his life starring Creator/WillSmith, who first didn't want to play the part, until Ali himself convinced him.

->''"When you are as great as I am, it is hard to be humble."''

* Apollo Creed from the ''Franchise/{{Rocky}}'' franchise is a rather obvious analog to Ali, to the point that Ali came out on stage declaring himself to be the real Apollo while Stallone was collecting an Oscar for the first film, much to the delight of Stallone. Ali also said later on that he wished he had thought up one of Apollo's many nicknames ("The Master of Disaster") and used it himself.

In his later years, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. Sadly, Ali went down for the count for the last time when he passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on June 3, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74 years old, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.''

In his later years, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. Sadly, Ali went down for the count permanently when he passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on June 3, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74 years old, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.''

In his later years, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. He passed away on June 3, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.''

'''Muhammad Ali''' (born '''Cassius Clay''' on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky; died on June 3, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona) was a heavyweight boxer famous for combining strength, skill, brilliant tactics, and elegant but incredible braggadocio. He was named "Sportsman of the Century" by ''Magazine/SportsIllustrated'' in 1999. He took up boxing as a teenager after a police officer and boxing coach advised the 12-year-old Clay to learn how to box before he tried to "whup" the guy who stole his bike. Fighting for several years as an amateur, he won gold at the 1960 Summer UsefulNotes/OlympicGames in Rome at the age of 18; he decided to leverage that medal into a professional career. He fought professionally for 18 years (with a three-year sabbatical when his license was suspended due to draft resistance. The U.S. Supreme Court would overturn his conviction) in 61 bouts, retiring with 56 wins, 37 by way of knockout. Three of his five losses came in the last three years of his career, when he was well past his prime and starting to show early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

In his later years, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. He passed away on the 3rd of June, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74, having fought his battle against Parkinson's for ''32 years.''

** Ali (as Clay) released a spoken word album of his own, ''I Am the Greatest'', in 1963.
* A 1978 comic book by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, ''ComicBook/SupermanVsMuhammadAli'' has him be TheRival of Franchise/{{Superman}}
** Has become HarsherInHindsight as both men died in 2016 (''twice'' in [[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice Superman's]] [[ComicBook/TheNew52 case]]).

* A 1978 comic book by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, ''ComicBook/SupermanVsMuhammadAli'' has him be TheRival of ComicBook/{{Superman}}

'''Muhammad Ali''' (born '''Cassius Clay''' on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky; died on June 3, 2016) was a heavyweight boxer famous for combining strength, skill, brilliant tactics, and elegant but incredible braggadocio. He was named "Sportsman of the Century" by ''Magazine/SportsIllustrated'' in 1999. He took up boxing as a teenager after a police officer and boxing coach advised the 12-year-old Clay to learn how to box before he tried to "whup" the guy who stole his bike. Fighting for several years as an amateur, he won gold at the 1960 Summer UsefulNotes/OlympicGames in Rome at the age of 18; he decided to leverage that medal into a professional career. He fought professionally for 18 years (with a three-year sabbatical when his license was suspended due to draft resistance. The U.S. Supreme Court would overturn his conviction) in 61 bouts, retiring with 56 wins, 37 by way of knockout. Three of his five losses came in the last three years of his career, when he was well past his prime and starting to show early symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

In his later years, Ali still made periodic appearances in public, but Parkinson's disease ravaged his body and repeated head trauma ravaged his mind. He was no longer the eloquent, witty speaker he once was (in fact, he couldn't speak at all anymore), and was largely restricted to a wheelchair. His most famous post-retirement appearances were the [[TearJerker 1996 Olympic Torch lighting]] and holding the Olympic Flag for the 2012 games. He passed away on the 3rd of June, 2016, after respiratory complications. He was 74, having fought his battle against Parkinsons for ''32 years.''