Muhammad Ali — born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky — was an American professional boxer and activist, known worldwide as “the Greatest.” He is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970, was the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1974 to 1978, and was the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979.
Ali turned professional in 1960 after winning gold in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics, and he won the world heavyweight championship at age 22 by defeating Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964. His career ran from 1960 to 1981, all at heavyweight, and it was interrupted at its peak: in 1967 he refused to be drafted into the military over his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War, was found guilty of draft evasion, and was stripped of his boxing titles. He did not fight for nearly four years before his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971.
He came back to headline some of the biggest fights in boxing history — the Liston fights, the Joe Frazier trilogy (the Fight of the Century and the Thrilla in Manila), and George Foreman in The Rumble in the Jungle. Ali retired from boxing in 1981. He died on June 3, 2016, aged 74.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
- Born: January 17, 1942 — Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
- Died: June 3, 2016 — Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
- Reach: 78 in (198 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: October 29, 1960 (unanimous decision over Tunney Hunsaker)
- Last bout: December 11, 1981 (loss to Trevor Berbick)
- Total rounds boxed: 548 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Heavyweight
- KO percentage: 66.1% (37 KO wins in 56 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBA, WBC, NYSAC and The Ring heavyweight titles won February 25, 1964; The Ring heavyweight champion 1964–1970; undisputed heavyweight champion (WBA, WBC, The Ring) October 30, 1974 – February 15, 1978; WBA and The Ring heavyweight champion September 15, 1978 – 1979 (retired)
- Trainer: Angelo Dundee (hired 1960; earlier trained by Joe E. Martin and Fred Stoner)
- Manager: Herbert Muhammad (long-time manager)
- Promoter: Bob Arum is named as a promoter in his Wikipedia article
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 61
- Wins: 56
- Wins by KO: 37
- Losses: 5
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 0
- Born: January 17, 1942, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.)
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
- Reach: 78 in (198 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Heavyweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 29, 1960 | Tunney Hunsaker | Win | UD | 6 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| 2 | Dec 27, 1960 | Herb Siler | Win | TKO | 4 (8), 1:00 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 3 | Jan 17, 1961 | Tony Esperti | Win | TKO | 3 (8), 1:30 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 4 | Feb 7, 1961 | Jim Robinson | Win | KO | 1 (8), 1:34 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 5 | Feb 21, 1961 | Donnie Fleeman | Win | RTD | 6 (8) | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 6 | Apr 19, 1961 | LaMar Clark | Win | KO | 2 (8), 1:27 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| 7 | Jun 26, 1961 | Duke Sabedong | Win | UD | 10 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 8 | Jul 22, 1961 | Alonzo Johnson | Win | UD | 10 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| 9 | Oct 7, 1961 | Alex Miteff | Win | TKO | 6 (10), 1:45 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| 10 | Nov 29, 1961 | Willi Besmanoff | Win | TKO | 7 (10), 1:55 | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| 11 | Feb 10, 1962 | Sonny Banks | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 0:26 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 12 | Feb 28, 1962 | Don Warner | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 0:34 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 13 | Apr 23, 1962 | George Logan | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 1:34 | Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 14 | May 19, 1962 | Billy Daniels | Win | TKO | 7 (10), 2:21 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 15 | Jul 20, 1962 | Alejandro Lavorante | Win | KO | 5 (10), 1:48 | Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 16 | Nov 15, 1962 | Archie Moore | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 1:35 | Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 17 | Jan 24, 1963 | Charlie Powell | Win | KO | 3 (10), 2:04 | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 18 | Mar 13, 1963 | Doug Jones | Win | UD | 10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 19 | Jun 18, 1963 | Henry Cooper | Win | TKO | 5 (10), 2:15 | Wembley Stadium, London, England |
| 20 | Feb 25, 1964 | Sonny Liston | Win | RTD | 6 (15), 3:00 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 21 | May 25, 1965 | Sonny Liston | Win | KO | 1 (15), 2:12 | Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 22 | Nov 22, 1965 | Floyd Patterson | Win | TKO | 12 (15), 2:18 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 23 | Mar 29, 1966 | George Chuvalo | Win | UD | 15 | Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 24 | May 21, 1966 | Henry Cooper | Win | TKO | 6 (15), 1:38 | Arsenal Stadium, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 25 | Aug 6, 1966 | Brian London | Win | KO | 3 (15), 1:40 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 26 | Sep 10, 1966 | Karl Mildenberger | Win | TKO | 12 (15), 1:30 | Waldstadion, Frankfurt, West Germany — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 27 | Nov 14, 1966 | Cleveland Williams | Win | TKO | 3 (15), 1:08 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 28 | Feb 6, 1967 | Ernie Terrell | Win | UD | 15 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 29 | Mar 22, 1967 | Zora Folley | Win | KO | 7 (15), 1:48 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 30 | Oct 26, 1970 | Jerry Quarry | Win | RTD | 3 (15), 3:00 | Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| 31 | Dec 7, 1970 | Oscar Bonavena | Win | TKO | 15 (15), 2:03 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant NABF heavyweight title |
| 32 | Mar 8, 1971 | Joe Frazier | Loss | UD | 15 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 33 | Jul 26, 1971 | Jimmy Ellis | Win | TKO | 12 (12), 2:10 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant NABF heavyweight title |
| 34 | Nov 17, 1971 | Buster Mathis | Win | UD | 12 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 35 | Dec 26, 1971 | Jürgen Blin | Win | KO | 7 (12), 2:12 | Hallenstadion, Zürich, Switzerland |
| 36 | Apr 1, 1972 | Mac Foster | Win | UD | 15 | Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan |
| 37 | May 1, 1972 | George Chuvalo | Win | UD | 12 | Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 38 | Jun 27, 1972 | Jerry Quarry | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 0:19 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 39 | Jul 19, 1972 | Alvin Lewis | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:15 | Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland |
| 40 | Sep 20, 1972 | Floyd Patterson | Win | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 41 | Nov 21, 1972 | Bob Foster | Win | KO | 8 (12), 0:40 | Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 42 | Feb 14, 1973 | Joe Bugner | Win | UD | 12 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 43 | Mar 31, 1973 | Ken Norton | Loss | SD | 12 | San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost NABF heavyweight title |
| 44 | Sep 10, 1973 | Ken Norton | Win | SD | 12 | The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won NABF heavyweight title |
| 45 | Oct 20, 1973 | Rudie Lubbers | Win | UD | 12 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia |
| 46 | Jan 28, 1974 | Joe Frazier | Win | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF heavyweight title |
| 47 | Oct 30, 1974 | George Foreman | Win | KO | 8 (15), 2:58 | Stade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa, Zaire — ★ Title fight — Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 48 | Mar 24, 1975 | Chuck Wepner | Win | TKO | 15 (15), 2:41 | Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 49 | May 16, 1975 | Ron Lyle | Win | TKO | 11 (15), 1:08 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 50 | July 1, 1975[388] | Joe Bugner | Win | UD | 15 | Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 51 | Oct 1, 1975 | Joe Frazier | Win | RTD | 14 (15), 3:00 | Philippine Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 52 | Feb 20, 1976 | Jean-Pierre Coopman | Win | KO | 5 (15), 2:46 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 53 | Apr 30, 1976 | Jimmy Young | Win | UD | 15 | Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 54 | May 24, 1976 | Richard Dunn | Win | TKO | 5 (15), 2:05 | Olympiahalle, Munich, West Germany — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 55 | Sep 28, 1976 | Ken Norton | Win | UD | 15 | Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 56 | May 16, 1977 | Alfredo Evangelista | Win | UD | 15 | Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 57 | Sep 29, 1977 | Earnie Shavers | Win | UD | 15 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 58 | Feb 15, 1978 | Leon Spinks | Loss | SD | 15 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 59 | Sep 15, 1978 | Leon Spinks | Win | UD | 15 | Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 60 | Oct 2, 1980 | Larry Holmes | Loss | RTD | 10 (15), 3:00 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBC and vacant The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 61 | Dec 11, 1981 | Trevor Berbick | Loss | UD | 10 | Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Nassau, Bahamas |
Titles & notes
-
Major title reigns (start–end): The Ring heavyweight title 1964–1970 (won from Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964); undisputed heavyweight champion October 30, 1974 – February 15, 1978; WBA and The Ring heavyweight champion September 15, 1978 – 1979.
-
Won the WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles by stopping Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964.
- Made a run of heavyweight title defenses in the 1960s against Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London, Karl Mildenberger, Cleveland Williams, Ernie Terrell and Zora Folley.
- Won the vacant NABF heavyweight title against Oscar Bonavena in 1970, lost his first fight for the world title to Joe Frazier in 1971.
- Regained the WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles by knocking out George Foreman on October 30, 1974.
- Lost the WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles to Leon Spinks in 1978, then won the WBA and The Ring titles back from Spinks later that year.
- His final fight was a decision loss to Trevor Berbick on December 11, 1981, after a stoppage loss to Larry Holmes in 1980.
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list).
Photo: Ira Rosenberg via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) (Public domain)
