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.
At the height of his career, Ali gave up his title and his boxing license rather than accept the military draft, a decision that cost him over three years before the Supreme Court finally overturned his conviction.
Olympic Gold to World Champion
Ali, born Cassius Clay, won Olympic gold in boxing at the 1960 Rome Games before turning professional and shocking the boxing world by defeating the heavily favored Sonny Liston to become world heavyweight champion in 1964.
A New Name, A New Faith
Shortly after winning the title, Ali announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay, a decision that drew significant controversy in the United States at the time but reflected his deepening religious and political convictions.
Refusing the Draft
In 1967, at the height of his career, Ali refused induction into the U.S. military during vietnam-war" class="wiki-link" data-preview-slug="the-vietnam-war">the Vietnam War, citing religious objections. The decision cost him his boxing titles and license for over three years, until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971.
The Rumble in the Jungle
Ali's dramatic 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" victory over the seemingly unbeatable George Foreman in Zaire, achieved using his famous "rope-a-dope" strategy, is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Three-Time Champion
Ali became the first boxer to win the lineal heavyweight title three separate times. He died in 2016 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, remembered as much for his activism and charisma as for his extraordinary boxing career.
