World-renowned professional boxer, activist and philanthropist Muhamad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He is widely regarded as one of the most notable and celebrated sports personalities as well as one of the greatest boxers of all time, earning the nickname “The Greatest” during his career in the ring. Ali began his training in the boxing ring at the age of 12, and by the time he was 18 had won an Olympic gold medal in the “light” heavyweight division.1 He also garnered worldwide attention in 1966 by abstaining from the draft during the Vietnam War. Immediately after winning his first heavyweight boxing title, Ali announced his conversion to Islam and would later name religion as the cause for his objection to American involvement in the Vietnam War and his refusal to the draft.2 These actions resulted in his arrest, and he was stripped of all his boxing titles. Although he was eventually found guilty of tax evasion, Ali appealed his conviction successfully in 1971.3 To this day Ali remains the only boxer ever to win the lineal-championship in the heavyweight division three times. In 1984, after retiring and outing his focus on charity work, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome and passed away at the age of 74 in June 2016.1
1. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/muhammad-ali
2. http://www.thearda.com/timeline/events/event_342.asp
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/sports/in-alis-voice-from-the-past-a-stand-for-the-ages.html