Muhammad Ali: Major Accomplishments and Facts
More Muhammad Ali Facts
Muhammad Ali – Accomplishments
- Five years after his first bout against Liston, Muhammad Ali once again came out tops in a rematch in May 1965.
- Many of his fights rank up there as one of the greatest sporting spectacle of the 20th Notable examples are the Fight of the Century against Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971; the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman on October 30, 1974; and the Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975.
- Ali married four times. His final and fourth marriage was to Yolanda Williams in 1986. He gave birth to nine children, including Laila Ali (born on December 30, 1977), a celebrated female boxer with a 24-0 in her career from 1999 to 2007.
- In addition to defeat greats like George Foreman and Joe Fraizer, Ali also defeated the likes of Henry Cooper, Floyd Patterson, and Henry Cooper.
- Muhammad Ali found the Islamic faith following his historic win against Sonny Liston in March 1964. It was also around this time that he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.
- He had a very close personal and professional relationship with legendary sports reporter Howard
- The cause of Muhammad Ali’s death was said to be septic shock, a deadly condition that occurs when the blood pressure falls lethally low level.
- Muhammad Ali’s memorial service, which was held in June, 2016, was attended former heavyweight champions like Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. In attendance were also former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Comedian/actor Billy Crystal, Boxing promoter Don King, boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, and Hollywood superstar Will Smith, the American actor who played Muhammad Ali in the 2001 movie
- Muhammad Ali’s memorial service on June 9, 2016 was viewed by more than a billion people worldwide.
Muhammad Ali receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, during ceremonies in the East Room of the White House. Photo by Paul Morse, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
