Boxing legend Muhammad Ali passes away at 74

He was former three times world heavyweight champion (1964, 1974 and 1978) who had record-setting boxing career, which had made him one of the best-known figures of the 20th century. He was also known globally for his civil rights activism.

About Muhammad Ali

• Born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, US.


• He had started his boxing career at young age of 12 years. In 1964, at the age of 22 he had won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston.


• In 1975, he had converted to Sunni Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. 30 years later began adhering to Sufism.


• In 1967, he was stripped of his boxing title after refusing to be conscripted into US military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War and was convicted.


• Later in 1971, US Supreme Court overturned his conviction. His actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation.


• In boxing career, he was nicknamed The Greatest, and was involved in several historic boxing matches.


• Some of his notable matches were the first Liston fight, three with rival Joe Frazier, and one with George Foreman, in which he regained titles that were stripped in 1967.


• Honours: Sports Illustrated had crowned him as “Sportsman of the Century” and BBC had named him as “Sports Personality of the Century”.


• Books: He had written several best-selling books about his career including The Greatest: My Own Story and The Soul of a Butterfly.

• 61 fights


• 56 wins


• over a professional career lasting 21 years


• including 37 knockouts


• 3 times crowned World Heavyweight Champion


• 1 Light-heavyweight Olympic gold medal


• 31 straight wins before being beaten by Joe Frazier

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