Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist, regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century[1]. He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, and died on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona[2]. Ali was nicknamed “The Greatest” and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time[1]. He won the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions and successfully defended this title 19 times[2]. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC[1].
Ali was also an activist and a champion of justice and peace[1]. He was honored with the annual Martin Luther King Award in 1970 by civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy, who called him “a living example of soul power, the March on Washington in two fists”[1]. Coretta Scott King added that Ali was “a champion of justice and peace and unity”[1].
The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, is a museum and educational center that features interactive exhibits and programming inspired by Ali’s six core principles[3]. These principles are confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality[3]. The Center’s exhibits invite visitors to explore Ali’s legendary life and reflect upon their own individual values, inner strength, and character[3].
In addition to the Muhammad Ali Center, there are several other resources available to learn more about Ali. The PBS documentary “Muhammad Ali” brings his life to the screen and explores his impact on the world[4]. BoxRec.com provides a comprehensive record of Ali’s boxing career, including his bouts, rounds, and knockouts[5]. Finally, Ali’s life story is told in the documentary film “I Am Ali” and the docuseries “What’s My Name” and “Muhammad Ali”[2].