Career
Former world heavyweight boxing champion. Began
professional career, 1960; initially became heavyweight champ, 1964;
stripped of title and boxing license over refusal to participate in the
Vietnam War, 1966; retired from boxing, 1981. Appeared in film The Greatest,
1976, and television film Freedom Road.
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Muhammad Ali (born
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942) is a retired American
boxer. In 1999,
Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated.
He is widely regarded to be the greatest heavyweight champion of all time
and is one of the most heavily promoted athletes ever.
Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky.
He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr., (who was named
for the 19th century abolitionist
and politician Cassius Clay).
Ali later changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam
and subsequently converted to orthodox Sunni Islam in
1975
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