Born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942, his career began to take off in 1960 when he won an Olympic gold medal in Rome and turned professional later that year, making his debut against Tunney Husaker. Four years later, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali and it was the same year he beat Sonny Liston in six rounds to win the heavyweight title for the first time, after which he famously stated, "I am the greatest".In 1967, Ali was convicted of draft evasion after refusing to fight in the Vietnam War on religious grounds. He was banned from boxing for three years, returning to the ring and beating Jerry Quarry in the third round in 1970; the conviction would be overturned by the US Supreme Court just four years later.
In 1971, he lost for the first time as a professional after fifteen rounds against Joe Frazier, who he beat in a rematch in 1974 after twelve rounds. Later that year, in the famous Rumble in the Jungle, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Forman in the eighth round in Zaire to reclaim the world title.
He held the title for four years until up-and-coming boxer Leon Spinks defeated him after fifteen rounds in a split decision in Las Vegas. However, seven months later, on the 15th September 1978, the aging Ali regained the title in a rematch gaining a unanimous decision after fifteen rounds becoming the first fighter ever to win the world heavyweight boxing title for a third time.
After retiring in 1979, Muhammad Ali briefly returned to the ring losing to Larry Holmes in 1980 after attempting to regain the title for a fourth time, and then to Trevor Berbick a year later, after which he left the ring permanently with a record of fifty-six wins, five losses and thirty-seven knockouts.
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