Muhammad Ali Biography

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, was an American professional boxer and activist who passed away on June 3, 2016. A global cultural icon widely known as the Greatest, he is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970 and was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and received the Sports Personality of the Century honor from the BBC. At age 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics and turned professional later that year. In 1967, Ali refused to be drafted into the military due to his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War, resulting in a conviction for draft evasion. His actions as a conscientious objector made him an icon for the larger counterculture of the 1960s generation and a prominent figure of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement and throughout his career.