Muhammad Ali was one of America’s most famous professional boxers. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942, Ali began training as a boxer at the age of 12. He was inspired to start boxing after seeing amateur boxers on Tomorrow’s Champions, a local television program. Working with his trainer, Fred Stoner, Ali made his amateur boxing debut in 1954. Just 6 years later, at the age of 18, he won an Olympic gold medal at the 1960 Summer Games in Rome.

After finding success at the Olympics, he made his professional debut in a match against Tunney Hunsaker in 1960. By the end of the 1963 season, Ali held a record of 19-0 with 15 knockout wins. After winning against Sonny Liston in the 1964 world heavyweight championship, he denounced his birth name, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., and formally changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

As the United States entered the Vietnam War, Ali declared himself to be a conscientious objector, refusing to serve in the army. He was arrested after resisting his scheduled induction into the US Armed Forces. He lost his boxing license and World Boxing Association title as a result. His act of defiance, while an inspiration to many, also resulted in Ali receiving numerous death threats. Ali was finally able to regain his license to box in 1970.

Ali was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. But he was more than just an athlete; he also focused a lot of his efforts on humanitarian aid. He is also recognized for his philanthropy, donating millions to charity organizations to help people across the world. Even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome, he continued to stay in the spotlight for years to come. He passed away on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74. Muhammad Ali is still ranked the greatest heavyweight champion of all time by the World Boxing Council.