Muhammad Ali Autograph

Profession:
(1942-2016) American former professional boxer, generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport.

Year of Birth: 1942

Muhammad Ali was a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, civil rights activist, and philanthropist. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942 as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., the eldest of two boys. His father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., was a sign and mural painter, while his mother, Odessa Grady Clay, was a domestic worker.

At the age of 12, Ali found his passion for boxing after his bike was stolen. He trained at the Columbia Gym and at age 18, he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. After winning the Olympic gold medal, Ali turned professional, signing with manager Angelo Dundee in 1960. His professional debut was against opponent Tunney Hunsaker, which he won in six rounds.

Ali's success in the ring was unparalleled. He was crowned heavyweight champion three times in his career and was the first man to win the world heavyweight title three times. He was known for his quickness and agility in the ring, as well as his ability to talk the talk and back it up with his fists. He also famously used unorthodox tactics in the ring such as the "rope-a-dope" which would tire out his opponents.

Ali was also an outspoken civil rights activist, refusing to be drafted into the US Army in 1967 citing religious reasons. His stance led to a lengthy legal battle and he was eventually stripped of his world heavyweight title and banned from boxing. In 1971, his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court and he returned to the ring in 1970.

His career continued until he was forced to retire in 1981, due to health problems caused by Parkinson's disease. After retirement, Ali remained a cultural icon and continued to be an advocate for social justice and peace. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2005 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74. He left behind an incredible legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time and a champion of civil rights. He has been credited with changing the face of the sport and paving the way for generations of black athletes to follow in his footsteps.