Muhammad Ali Birthday (Date, Age, How Old)

Background

Within and beyond the boxing ring, Muhammad Ali emerged as a global icon. His perseverance, determination, and relentless effort allowed him to achieve feats most thought impossible, ensuring his legacy endures even after his passing. Born Cassius Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, he came from parents Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay, descendants of enslaved African and Irish ancestry. Ali identified primarily as African. A Capricorn by zodiac sign, he faced challenges such as dyslexia during his childhood. While attending Central High School in Louisville, Ali struggled with reading and writing for a considerable portion of his youth, yet this did not hinder his aspirations in boxing.

At the age of 12, Ali began his journey as an amateur boxer, making his professional debut in 1954 with a victorious match against Ronnie O’Keefe. By 1960, he clinched a gold medal in the Light Heavyweight division at the Summer Olympics. In the same year, he embraced Islam and adopted the Muslim faith. Four years later, on February 25, 1964, Ali claimed the World Heavyweight Championship title from Sonny Liston. Also that year, he married his first wife, Sonji Roi, and chose to discard his birth name ‘Cassius’ in favor of ‘Muhammad Ali.’

Living as an African-American during the 1960s was…

This was challenging for Ali. He declined to be drafted for the Vietnam War, resulting in the loss of his boxing titles; however, the Supreme Court reversed that decision in 1971. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Ali identified primarily as an African-American. During his exile, he engaged in the Civil Rights Movement, which included protesting in the streets, speaking at universities, and establishing himself as a spoken word artist. He earned Grammy nominations for his two studio albums: “I Am the Greatest!” which came out in 1963, and “The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay,” released in 1976.