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Table of Contents
Muhammad Ali
Who Was He?
Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer, activist, entertainer, and philanthropist from the United States.1)
Birth
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on January 17, 1942.2)
Death
He passed away on June 3, 2016.3)
Nickname
He was dubbed “The Greatest”.4)
Kentucky
Ali was raised in Louisville, Kentucky.5)
Young Champion
At the age of 18, he won gold in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Later that year, he became a professional.6)
Muslim
He converted to Islam after 1961.7)
First Heavyweight Championship
On February 25, 1964, at the age of 22, he won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset still as Cassius Clay.8)
Name Change
On March 6, 1964, he declared that he would no longer be known as Cassius Clay, but as Muhammad Ali.9)
Refused To Be Drafted
Ali refused to be drafted into the military in 1966, citing his religious beliefs as well as his ethical opposition to the Vietnam War.10)
Draft Evasion
He was convicted of draft evasion and faced 5 years in prison. Then, he was stripped of his boxing titles.11)
Supreme Court
He remained free while appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971.12)
Missed Peak Performance
He hadn't fought in nearly four years, and he'd missed out on a period of peak athletic performance.13)
Icon
Ali became an icon for the larger counterculture generation as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War.14)