Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and social activist. He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, the first of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay’s two sons. His father was a sign painter who also loved to act, sing, and dance; his mother worked as a cleaning lady when money was tight. Ali began boxing at the age of twelve.
He was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions; he successfully defended this title 19 times. Ali was also an Olympic gold medalist and the first fighter to capture a world heavyweight title on three separate occasions. He is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
In addition to his boxing career, Ali was known for his public stance against the Vietnam War and his longtime battle with Parkinson’s disease. He died on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
