Muhammad Ali

Birth Name:

Cassius Marcellus Clay

Birth Place:

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack, Writer

Beat more champions and top contenders than any heavyweight champion before him and won the title of Heavyweight Champion three during his career
Was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005
Met his boxing trainer, who happened to be a policeman, when he reported his stolen bike and told the officer, Joe Martin, that he wanted to beat up whoever stole it
Quote: "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth․"
Refused to join the U․S․ Army on the grounds that it went against his religious beliefs, but the U․S․ Department of Justice found that his objections were actually political and he was arrested and stripped of his title and boxing license
Used several unorthodox boxing styles, keeping his arms low and avoiding punches via foot speed and lying on the ropes to avoid heavy punches, a technique eventually named "the rope-a-dope․"
Was known for predicting the round in which his boxing opponents would fall and taunting them as he fought to rile up the crowd
Has devoted his time and money to helping the developing world, feeding the hungry at home and abroad
Joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, which gave him the name Muhammad Ali
Met Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison in South Africa

Fast Facts