Cassius Clay plays a record in his 1960 Cadillac outside of his home in 1960. [340], Ali was the subject of the British television program This Is Your Life in 1978 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews. [179], In a 1974 interview, Ali said, "If they say stand and salute the flag I do that out of respect, because I'm in the country". He lost the title by split decision. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. A public memorial service for Ali at downtown Louisville's KFC Yum! [195] With the Clay name coming from a family of enslavers, Ali concluded: "Why should I keep my white slavemaster's name visible and my black ancestors invisible, unknown, unhonored? [141] Most boxing commentators at the time viewed the fight negatively and hoped it would be forgotten as some considered it a "15-round farce. Not sure when it will be released, but the footage they found will blow minds and the great Ali will come alive for a new generation. The Tanzanian government was insulted that Carter had sent an athlete to discuss a serious political issue. The defeat of Frazier set the stage for a title fight against heavyweight champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974a bout nicknamed The Rumble in the Jungle. You need to keep that 'cause it's gone be worth a lot of money,'" Boyd said, mimicking Ali. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. [37] (He was quoted as saying, "I said I was the greatest, not the smartest! Muhammad Ali was a three-time heavyweight boxing champion with an impressive 56-win record. As a result, he did not fight from March 1967 to October 1970from ages 25 to almost 29as his case worked its way through the appeals process before his conviction was overturned in 1971.[97]. [265][266], In 1984, Ali announced his support for the re-election of United States President Ronald Reagan. [131] Despite pleas to definitively retire, Ali fought one last time on December 11, 1981, in Nassau, Bahamas, against Trevor Berbick, losing a ten-round decision. Just last week, I murdered a rock, Injured a stone, Hospitalized a brick. An officer warned him that he was committing a felony punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Ali rode on a float at the following year's Tournament of Roses Parade, launching the U.S. Constitution's 200th birthday commemoration. [22] He also featured as an actor and writer, releasing two autobiographies. [324][325], The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act was introduced in 1999 and passed in 2000, to protect the rights and welfare of boxers in the United States. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali - one of the world's greatest sporting figures - has died at the age of 74. [239], Ali appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on 38 different occasions,[334] second only to Michael Jordan's 46. A rematch occurred in September at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the sixth, Clay dominated, hitting Liston repeatedly. Ali, in his corner, winner by TKO, slumped on his stool, clearly spent. She also said celebrities like Michael Jackson and Clint Eastwood would often visit Ali. Just before the divorce was finalized, Ali sent Sonji a note: "You traded heaven for hell, baby. [172] According to Veronica, Ali admitted to the affair with Williams, but did not believe Osmon was his son which Veronica supported by saying "Everybody in the camp was going with that girl. In the next three years, he consolidated most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. But in February Ali was reclassified by the Louisville draft board as 1-A from 1-Y, and he indicated that he would refuse to serve, commenting to the press, "I ain't got nothing against no Viet Cong; no Viet Cong never called me nigger. Muhammad Ali was often dubbed the world's "most famous" person in the media. You my opposer when I want justice. [194] Ali explained in his autobiography after studying his works, "he may have gotten rid of his slaves, but (he) held on to white supremacy. In 1973, Ken Norton broke Ali's jaw while giving him the second loss of his career. Although the seven-foot-two-inch tall Chamberlain had formidable physical advantages over Aliweighing 60pounds more and able to reach 14inches furtherAli was able to influence Chamberlain into calling off the bout by taunting him with calls of "Timber!" He stayed out of prison while appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, where his conviction was overturned in 1971. After dodging a few punches, Monsoon put Ali in an airplane spin and dumped him to the mat. He said some people didn't like the change and stuck to Elijah's teachings, but he admired it and so left Elijah's teachings and became a follower of Sunni Islam. [199][210][211] According to Ali's daughter, Hana Yasmeen Ali, who co-authored The Soul of a Butterfly with him, Ali was attracted to Sufism after reading the books of Inayat Khan, which contain Sufi teachings. From then until the end of 1963, Clay amassed a record of 190 with 15 wins by knockout. [226][227] It reached number 61 on the album chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 6th Annual Grammy Awards in 1964. "[86][87] The New York Times columnist William Rhoden wrote, "Ali's actions changed my standard of what constituted an athlete's greatness. [123], After returning to beat Alfredo Evangelista in May 1977, Ali struggled in his next fight against Earnie Shavers that September, getting pummeled a few times by punches to the head. [218] No reunion happened. "[22] "I've wrestled with alligators, I've tussled with a whale. [292], Ali was hospitalized in Scottsdale, Arizona, on June 2, 2016, with a respiratory illness. I knew beyond a doubt there were no feelings involved. Ali died on June 3, 2016 . Muhammad Ali's doctor says the iconic boxer had been "having a tough time in the last year" before his death. He knew Ali had nothing left; he knew it would be a horror. Ali returned to the United States to fight Cleveland Williams at the Astrodome in Houston on November 14, 1966. Brown is the author of "Muhammad Ali: The Untold Story: Painter, Poet and Prophet. [338], On the set of Freedom Road Ali met Canadian singer-songwriter Michel,[339] and subsequently helped create Michel's album The First Flight of the Gizzelda Dragon and an unaired television special featuring them both. He did not fight for nearly four years and lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. [262][263] The Nigerian government also rebuffed him and confirmed that they would be participating in the Moscow Games. On April 30, 1976, Ali would fight Jimmy Young and win a controversial unanimous decision. He spoke at several historically black colleges and universities about the importance of education, and became the largest single black donor to the United Negro College Fund in 1967 by way of a $10,000 donation ($78,000 in 2020 USD). The cause of Ali's death was septic shock, according to a. The article quoted Cassius Clay Sr. as saying that his son had joined the Black Muslims when he was 18. [315], In 1999, Time magazine named Ali one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. After Ali's title defense against Zora Folley on March 22, he was stripped of his title due to his refusal to be drafted to army service. [46], Adding to the atmosphere were the considerable pre-fight theatrics and name calling. [314] He was named Athlete of the Century by USA Today, and ranked as the third greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN SportsCentury. [8] His joint records of beating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight title and winning 14 unified title bouts stood for 35 years. Edited versions of the bout were shown in movie theaters in 1970. He still believes that even good Christians or good Jews can receive God's blessing and enter heaven as he stated, "God created all people, no matter what their religion". It was despite telling officials that he was Ali's son and a native-born US citizen . That really affected him. News networks, such as ABC News, BBC, CNN, and Fox News, also covered him extensively. [82], Ali remained free in the years between the Appellate Court decision and the Supreme Court ruling. At the end of the 20th century he was ranked at or near the top of most lists of the century's greatest athletes. Cassius Marcellus Clay (November 11, 1912 - February 8, 1990) was an American painter and musician. "[258] In 1978, following his loss to Spinks and before winning the rematch, Ali visited Bangladesh and received honorary citizenship there. Later that same day, the New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing license and stripped him of his title. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (/ks/ KASH-ss) was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. In time, Muhammad Ali Boulevardand Ali himselfcame to be well accepted in his hometown.[310]. I'm so mean, I make medicine sick[229]" "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. A month earlier, a victory in federal court forced the New York State Boxing Commission to reinstate Ali's license. Clay was knocked down by both Sonny Banks and Cooper. As a "rhyming trickster", he was noted for his "funky delivery", "boasts", "comical trash talk", and "endless quotables. [208], In 1990, Ali traveled to Iraq prior to the Gulf War, and met with Saddam Hussein in an attempt to negotiate the release of American hostages. Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. It was so obvious, It was easy to forgive him. [9][10], On April 28, 1967, Ali appeared in Houston for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces, but he refused three times to step forward when his name was called. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," said family . Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer who proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and was among the most famous and beloved athletes on the planet, died Friday in Arizona, a family spokesman said. Ali was introduced to cocktail waitress Sonji Roi by Herbert Muhammad, who was to become Ali's long-time manager, and asked her to marry him after their first date. Soon after the Liston fight, Clay changed his name to Cassius X, and then later to Muhammad Ali upon converting to Islam and affiliating with the Nation of Islam. [206] In 1977, he said that, after he retired, he would dedicate the rest of his life to getting "ready to meet God" by helping people, charitable causes, uniting people and helping to make peace. [171] She further alleged that Ali had originally supported her and her son financially, but stopped doing so after four years. I shook up the world. In winning this fight at the age of 22, Clay became the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion. [28] He was a descendant of slaves of the antebellum South, and was predominantly of African descent, with Irish[29] and English family heritage. The win left Ali as a top contender against heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. This is my name. [275], On September 1, 2009, Ali visited Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, the home of his great-grandfather, Abe Grady, who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1860s, eventually settling in Kentucky. [25] After a Court of Appeals upheld the conviction, the case was reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971. The bout, known as the "Thrilla in Manila", was held on October 1, 1975,[25] in temperatures approaching 100F (38C). Veteran US boxing writer John Condon called it "the greatest event I've ever worked on in my life." "This is money to help people all over the world", he said. The Muhammad Ali effect, named after Ali, is a term that came into use in psychology in the 1980s, as he stated in The Greatest: My Own Story: "I only said I was the greatest, not the smartest. [228] He later received a second Grammy nomination, for "Best Recording for Children", with his 1976 spoken word novelty record, The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay.[22]. Wepner, a journeyman known as "The Bayonne Bleeder", stunned Ali with a knockdown in the ninth round; Ali would later say he tripped on Wepner's foot. Patterson later said that he had never been hit by punches as soft as Ali's. In 1971, basketball star Wilt Chamberlain challenged Ali to a fight, and a bout was scheduled for July 26. [52], In 1960, Clay left Moore's camp, partially due to Clay's refusal to do chores such as washing dishes and sweeping. These statements of confidence unsettled his taller opponent, whom Los Angeles Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had offered a record-setting contract, conditional on Chamberlain agreeing to abandon what Cooke termed "this boxing foolishness",[107] and he did exactly that. It was watched by an estimated 3.5billion viewers worldwide. [25] He had one brother. The fact that he was proud to be a black man and that he had so much talent made some people think that he was dangerous. The Janazah prayer was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan. [253][254] He focused on practicing his Islamic duty of charity and good deeds, donating millions to charity organizations and disadvantaged people of all religious backgrounds. She said he accepted responsibility and took care of her, but all contacts with him were cut off after he married his fourth wife Lonnie. Inc) to consolidate and license his intellectual properties for commercial purposes. [199], Aligning himself with the Nation of Islam, its leader Elijah Muhammad, and a narrative that labeled the white race as the perpetrator of genocide against African Americans made Ali a target of public condemnation. Ali denied the accusations of cruelty but, for Ali's critics, the fight provided more evidence of his arrogance. In an interview with NBC 6, Boyd recounted meeting Ali when she was 10 years old at her hometown mosque. During this time of inactivity, as opposition to the Vietnam War began to grow and Ali's stance gained sympathy, he spoke at colleges across the nation, criticizing the Vietnam War and advocating African-American pride and racial justice. However a few seconds later Walcott, having been informed by the timekeepers that Liston had been down for a count of 10, stopped the match and declared Ali the winner by knockout. Clay also beat his former trainer and veteran boxer Archie Moore in a 1962 match. [102] In 1969 the boxers were filmed sparring for about 75 one-minute rounds; they produced several potential outcomes. In March, 632 , he returned to Mecca one last time to perform a pilgrimage . Against the odds, and amidst pandemonium in the ring, Ali had regained the title by knockout. It was a bout that would inspire Sylvester Stallone to create the acclaimed film, Rocky.[119]. When told by Joe Louis that the injury was a "left arm thrown out of its socket," Clay quipped, "Yeah, swinging at nothing, who wouldn't?"[60]. [157] In 2001 Khaliah was quoted as saying she believed her father viewed her as "a mistake". "[111] Ali was wildly popular in Zaire, with crowds chanting "Ali, bomaye" ("Ali, kill him") wherever he went. Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, to raise awareness and fund research for a cure. [290] Ali was once again hospitalized on January 15, 2015, for a urinary tract infection after being found unresponsive at a guest house in Scottsdale, Arizona. There are also traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad (the sira literature), which provide additional information about Muhammad's life. On several occasions in the early rounds he played to the crowd and shook his head "no" after he was hit. After the tenth round, Angelo Dundee stepped into the ring and instructed the referee to stop the fight. Thomas Hauser's biography of Ali stated that Ali was refused service at the diner but that he lost his medal a year after he won it. ESPN played four hours of non-stop commercial-free coverage of Ali. ", "Ken Burns' Next Documentary Will Profile Muhammad Ali", "OK just finished watching the eight hour rough cut of Ken Burns' forthcoming documentary about Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali reflecting on having Parkinson's disease[284][285], Ali's Parkinson's syndrome led to a gradual decline in his health, though he was still active into the early 2000s, promoting his own biopic, Ali, in 2001. Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, first listed the home in September 2016 for $2.2 million, just a few months after the boxing icon died from septic shock at 74 years old. [46] Foreman, increasingly angered, threw punches that were deflected and did not land squarely. Possessing a killer jump shot or the ability to stop on a dime was no longer enough. Ali based himself in Chicago. Eugene Powers/Shutterstock. [140] After Ali's death, The New York Times declared it his least memorable fight. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns created the four-part documentary film Muhammad Ali, spanning over eight hours on Ali's life. Ali sparred less than two dozen rounds in preparation for the fight, and was seriously out of shape by the opening bell. [140] Ali was only able to land two jabs while Inoki's kicks caused two blood clots and an infection that almost resulted in Ali's leg being amputated, as a result of Ali's team insisting on rules restricting Inoki's ability to wrestle. [154], Ali was a resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey in suburban Philadelphia in the early 1970s. People who supported Ali during this time were also threatened, including sports journalist Jerry Izenberg, whose columns defended Ali's decision not to serve. [247], In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome, which sometimes results from head trauma from violent physical activities such as boxing. [100] Despite this, Ebony magazine noted in the late 1960s that Ali's popularity had increased during this time, especially among black people. In 1997, Ali and others established The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center (MAPC) and Movement Disorder Clinic. The bout, which was held at Yankee Stadium, resulted in Ali winning a controversial decision that ringside commentators had scored in favor of Norton. "[13], Recalling Ali's anti-war position, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said: "I remember the teachers at my high school didn't like Ali because he was so anti-establishment and he kind of thumbed his nose at authority and got away with it. I would get home from school to find homeless families sleeping in our guest room. [89], Ali was honored with the annual Martin Luther King Award in 1970 by civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy, who called him "a living example of soul power, the March on Washington in two fists." Muhammad Ali Jr, 44, who confirmed his Muslim faith, was apparently detained for about two hours in Florida. [84] The decision was not based on, nor did it address, the merits of Ali's claims per se. Ali was guest of honor at the record-breaking Collision in Korea, a wrestling event with the largest attendance of all time.[144]. Coretta Scott King added that Ali was "a champion of justice and peace and unity. "[68], although the second part is probably apocryphal. Despite arranging the hostages release, he received criticism from President George H. W. Bush, and Joseph C. Wilson, the highest-ranking American diplomat in Baghdad.[272][273]. Khadija's mother, Fatima bint Za'idah, who died in 575, was a member of the Amir ibn Luayy clan of the Quraysh and a third cousin of Muhammad's mother. [298], Ali's funeral had been pre-planned by himself and others for several years prior to his actual death. [312] Named BBC's Sports Personality of the Century, he received more votes than the other five candidates combined. [94][95] A review by the NSA of the Minaret program concluded that it was "disreputable if not outright illegal. ", It was around this time that Ali started struggling with vocal stutters and trembling hands. [citation needed] In 2015, Harris Poll found that Ali was one of the three most recognizable athletes in the United States, along with Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth. "[195] In truth, Cassius Clay's attachment to slavery went farther than Ali knew. [158], By the summer of 1977, his second marriage ended due to Ali's repeated infidelity, and he had married actress and model Veronica Porch. He paid a bond and remained free while the verdict was being appealed. According to some accounts, he died c. 585 in the Sacrilegious War, but according to others, he was still alive when Khadija married Muhammad in 595. [115] The fight was watched by a record estimated television audience of 1billion viewers worldwide. [161], Kiiursti Mensah-Ali claims she is Ali's biological daughter with Barbara Mensah, with whom he allegedly had a 20-year relationship,[163][164][165][166] citing photographs and a paternity test conducted in 1988. "I want to torture him", he said. "[55] Clay turned the pre-fight weigh-in into a circus, shouting at Liston that "someone is going to die at ringside tonight." [132][133][134], Ali boxed both well known boxers and celebrities from other walks of life, including Michael Dokes,[135] Antonio Inoki,[136] Lyle Alzado,[137] Dave Semenko,[138] and the famous Puerto Rican comedian Jose Miguel Agrelot (with Iris Chacon acting as Agrelot's corner-woman). [53] Around this time, Clay sought longtime idol Sugar Ray Robinson to be his manager, but was rebuffed.[54]. [124] Ali won a unanimous decision in an uninspiring fight, with referee Lucien Joubert scoring rounds 10-4, judge Ernie Cojoe 10-4, and judge Herman Preis 11-4. (1963) and The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay (1976). But in 1968, he triumphed", "Muhammad Ali: The man who changed his sport and his country", "Muhammad Ali's Main Bout: African American Economic Power and the World Heavyweight Title", "One of His Biggest Fights Was Outside of the Ring", "Declassified NSA files show agency spied on Muhammad Ali and MLK", "In 1971, Muhammad Ali Helped Undermine the FBI's Illegal Spying on Americans", "Muhammad Ali's exile years in Chicago: 'Learning about life', "What if the Muhammad Ali we knew had never existed? [279] By 1980, his total fight purse earnings were estimated to be up to $70million[280] (inflation-adjusted $334million). The fight with Doug Jones on March 13, 1963, was Clay's toughest fight during this stretch. Joe was sitting there, smashing his fist into the palm of his hand, saying, 'What the fuck does he know about the ghetto?'"[46]. [282] Following his death in 2016, his fortune was estimated to be between $50million and $80million.[283]. The company's stockholders were mainly fellow Nation of Islam members, along with several others, including Bob Arum. [259][2] The same year, he participated in The Longest Walk, a protest march in the United States in support of Native American rights, along with singer Stevie Wonder and actor Marlon Brando. [42] He then began to work with trainer Fred Stoner, whom he credits with giving him the "real training", eventually molding "my style, my stamina and my system." [276], On July 27, 2012, Ali was a titular bearer of the Olympic flag during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Pride was acquired by its rival, Ultimate Fighting Championship, in 2007. I want to sit back and count my money, live in my house and my farm, work for my people and concentrate on my family."[120]. As usual, Ali was confident and colorful before the fight. [159] At the time of their marriage, they had a daughter, Hana, and Veronica was pregnant with their second child. Though his condition was initially described as fair, it worsened, and he died the following day at the age of 74 from septic shock.[293][294][295][296]. [139], On June 26, 1976, Ali participated in an exhibition bout in Tokyo against Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist Antonio Inoki. | LII / Legal Information Institute", "Clay v. United States | The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law", "Muhammad Ali lost everything in opposing the Vietnam War. [317] In November 2005, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush,[318][319] followed by the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in Gold of the UN Association of Germany (DGVN) in Berlin for his work with the civil rights movement and the United Nations, which he received on December 17, 2005. [197][198] Ali later said that turning his back on Malcolm was one of the mistakes he regretted most in his life. [105] Ali's first return bout was against Jerry Quarry on October 26, resulting in a win after three rounds after Quarry was cut. [104], Ali suggested that prejudice determined his defeat in the U.S. version; he was reported to have jokingly said, "That computer was made in Alabama."[102]. "[46], In Hauser's biography Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, Ali says that although he is not a Christian as he thinks the idea of God having a son sounds wrong and does not make sense to him, as he believes, "God don't beget; man begets". One of the COINTELPRO targets was Ali, and their activities included the FBI gaining access to his records as far back as elementary school; one such record mentioned him loving art as a child. [322], The 1976 Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki fight played an important role in the history of mixed martial arts. [85], Ali's example inspired many black Americans and others. For the last four years of Clay's amateur career he was trained by boxing cutman Chuck Bodak.[43]. He'd buy them clothes, take them to hotels and pay the bills for months in advance." He continued to attend meetings, although keeping his involvement hidden from the public. [156] In January 1985, Aaisha sued Ali for unpaid palimony. Ali cooperated with Thomas Hauser on a biography, Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times. t.co/KnizgnK07H", "ESPN Classic - Muhammad Ali's ring record", William Addams Reitwiesner Genealogical Services: Ancestry of Muhammad Ali, "Muhammad Ali's Life in Photos; From his time in the ring to his more playful side", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muhammad_Ali&oldid=1152296986, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 11:04. His daughter Hana later wrote that Ali once told her, "Nothing would ever shake me up (more) than the story of Emmett Till. [96], In March 1966, Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces. The official cause of death was "septic shock due to unspecified natural . The former world heavyweight champion died late on Friday at a hospital in the US city. But he only has one hometown. [15][16] Ali thrived in the spotlight at a time when many boxers let their managers do the talking, and he became renowned for his provocative and outlandish persona. Ali won a unanimous 15-round decision. [125][126], Following this win, on July 27, 1979, Ali announced his retirement from boxing. On October 2, 1980, Ali returned to the ring to fight Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Clay had met Dundee in February 1957 during Clay's amateur career. "[95], In 1971, Ali's Fight of the Century with Frazier was used by an activist group, the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, to pull off a burglary at an FBI office in Pennsylvania; the anticipation for the fight was unlike anything else, so they believed the security would also be focused on the fight. "[91] Ali's promoter Bob Arum did not support Ali's choice at the time, but in 2016 Arum stated: "when I look back at his life, and I was blessed to call him a friend and spent a lot of time with him, it's hard for me to talk about his exploits in boxing because as great as they were they paled in comparison to the impact that he had on the world. Ali opened the fight moving and scoring with right crosses to Foreman's head. Patterson later said he had strained his sacroiliac. The Nation of Islam was widely viewed by whites and some African Americans as a black separatist "hate religion" with a propensity toward violence; Ali had few qualms about using his influential voice to speak Nation of Islam doctrine. [147] They quarreled over Sonji's refusal to join the Nation Of Islam. Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and focused on religion, philanthropy and activism. Ali and Frazier's first fight, held at the Garden on March 8, 1971, was nicknamed the "Fight of the Century", due to the tremendous excitement surrounding a bout between two undefeated fighters, each with a legitimate claim to be heavyweight champion. [67], Ali and then-WBA heavyweight champion boxer Ernie Terrell had agreed to meet for a bout in Chicago on March 29, 1966 (the WBA, one of two boxing associations, had stripped Ali of his title following his joining the Nation of Islam). . [148], On August 17, 1967, Ali married Belinda Boyd. [208], After the September 11 attacks in 2001, he stated that "Islam is a religion of peace" and "does not promote terrorism or killing people", and that he was "angry that the world sees a certain group of Islam followers who caused this destruction, but they are not real Muslims. However, after he won the championship from Liston in 1964, the Nation of Islam was more receptive and agreed to publicize his membership. "[142] Today it is considered by some to be one of Ali's most influential fights and CBS Sports said the attention the mixed-style bout received "foretold the arrival of standardized MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) years later. [118][unreliable source] Outside of fights, he made many other television appearances. "[346], In 2002, Ali was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the entertainment industry. In 1966, Ali refused to be drafted into the military owing to his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War[9][10] and was found guilty of draft evasion and stripped of his boxing titles.
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