Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was an American boxer widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in history, and an influential activist known for his outspoken civil rights advocacy and opposition to the Vietnam War.
Ali, born Cassius Clay, won Olympic gold in boxing in 1960 before turning professional and became world heavyweight champion in 1964 after defeating Sonny Liston, later converting to Islam and changing his name.
In 1967, Ali refused induction into the U.S. military on religious grounds during the Vietnam War, resulting in a conviction that stripped him of his boxing titles for over three years before being overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971.
Ali returned to boxing and won the heavyweight title two more times, becoming the first three-time lineal heavyweight champion, including his famous 1974 'Rumble in the Jungle' victory over George Foreman. He died in 2016 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.