Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Updated 1549 GMT (2349 HKT) June 6, 2016 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Since winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, Muhammad Ali has never been far from the public eye. Take a look at the life and career of Ali, the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The Greatest." Hide Caption 1 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, poses in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, prior to his amateur boxing debut in 1954. He was 12 years old and 85 pounds. As an amateur, he won 100 out of 108 fights. Hide Caption 2 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he claimed a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division.

Hide Caption 3 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali boldly predicted it would take him five rounds to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper ahead of their bout in London in 1963. The fight was stopped in the fifth round as Cooper was bleeding heavily from a cut around his eye. Hide Caption 4 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Patrick Power, 6, takes on Ali in the ring in 1963. Patrick was taking boxing lessons after getting bullied. Hide Caption 5 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses for a picture with The Beatles in Miami, during the run-up to his heavyweight title fight against Sonny Liston in 1964. Hide Caption 6 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali celebrates after defeating Liston in Miami on February 25, 1964. Upon becoming world heavyweight champion for the first time, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest!" Hide Caption 7 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali relaxes after his win over Liston in 1964. At 22, he became the youngest boxer to take the heavyweight title from a reigning champion.

Hide Caption 8 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Civil rights activist Malcolm X, left, takes a picture of a tuxedo-clad Ali surrounded by jubilant fans in March 1964. Shortly after the Liston fight, Ali announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay. Hide Caption 9 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Known for being as quick with his mouth as he was with his hands, Ali often taunted his opponents. He famously said he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali prepares to defend his heavyweight title in 1965. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali stands over Liston during their rematch in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali eats at a restaurant in 1965. Hide Caption 13 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali The referee pushes Ali to a neutral corner as Floyd Patterson slumps to the canvas in November 1965.

The fight was stopped at the end of the 12th round and Ali was declared the winner. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali signs an autograph for a fan in 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali visits a children's home in London in May 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali trains for his second fight against British champion Henry Cooper in May 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali British talk-show host Eamonn Andrews shares a laugh with Ali in May 1966. Hide Caption 18 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali lands a right to the head of Brian London during their bout in London on August 6, 1966. Ali won by a knockout in the third round. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali looks in his hotel-room mirror in February 1967. Hide Caption 20 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali The referee counts as Ali looks down at Zora Folley during a championship fight in New York on March 23, 1967. Ali won by a knockout in the seventh round.

Hide Caption 21 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army in April 1967. Here, top athletes from various sports gather to support Ali as he gives his reasons for rejecting the draft. Seated in the front row, from left to right, are Bill Russell, Ali, Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Hide Caption 22 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali walks through the streets of New York with members of the Black Panther Party in September 1970. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for his refusal to enter the draft, and he was also stripped of his boxing title. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in 1971, but by that time Ali had already become a figurehead of resistance and a hero to many. Related: Photographer fondly recalls his three days with Ali Hide Caption 23 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali On November 2, 1970, Ali returned to the ring for his first professional fight in three years. He defeated Jerry Quarry in the third round.

Hide Caption 24 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse to fight for Frazier's title on March 8, 1971, in New York. Frazier won by unanimous decision, handing Ali his first professional loss. Hide Caption 25 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali toys with the finely combed hair of television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials in August 1972. Hide Caption 26 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Frazier appear on "The Dick Cavett Show" in January 1974. The two got into a brawl in ABC's New York studio and were fined $5,000 each. Hide Caption 27 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali passes a cheering crowd in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), on September 28, 1974. Ali was in the country to fight George Foreman, who had recently defeated Frazier to win the title.

Hide Caption 28 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Foreman fight October 30, 1974, in what was billed as "The Rumble in the Jungle." Ali, a huge underdog, knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the title that was stripped from him in 1967. Hide Caption 29 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali addresses a Nation of Islam meeting in London in December 1974. The following year, Ali left the Nation and embraced a more mainstream Islamic faith. Hide Caption 30 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali offers advice to future opponent Richard Dunn in March 1976. Ali defeated Dunn in the fifth round two months later. It was his last knockout win. Hide Caption 31 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and his third wife, Veronica, second from right, visit the Kremlin in Moscow in June 1978. The two were married from 1977 to 1986. Ali was married four times.

Hide Caption 32 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali takes his daily run along a Pennsylvania country road, shrouded in early morning fog, in 1978. Hide Caption 33 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali takes a hit from Leon Spinks during their title fight in New Orleans on September 15, 1978. Ali won by unanimous decision, regaining the title he lost to Spinks earlier that year. Hide Caption 34 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali sits with his daughters Laila and Hana at the Grosvenor House in London in December 1978. He briefly retired from professional boxing the following year. Hide Caption 35 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali came out of retirement on October 2, 1980, for a title fight with Larry Holmes and a guaranteed purse of $8 million. Holmes won easily, beating up Ali until the fight was stopped after the 10th round.

Hide Caption 36 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Trevor Berbick weigh in for their fight in the Bahamas in December 1981. Berbick won by unanimous decision. It was Ali's last professional fight. Hide Caption 37 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali prays at a mosque in Cairo in October 1986. Two years prior, he revealed that he had Parkinson's syndrome, a disorder of the central nervous system. Hide Caption 38 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali In 1990, Ali met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of 15 American hostages in Iraq and Kuwait. Here, Ali leaves Iraq with the hostages on December 2, 1990. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali lights the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Hide Caption 40 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, gives Ali a replacement gold medal in 1996.

Ali had thrown his 1960 gold medal into the Ohio River after he was criticized for not fighting in Vietnam. Hide Caption 41 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and his fourth wife, Lonnie, unveil his special-edition Wheaties box in February 1999. The box marked the cereal's 75th anniversary, and it was the first time a boxer appeared on the cover. Hide Caption 42 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger raises Ali's hand during the Celebrity Fight Night charity event in Phoenix in March 2002. Schwarzenegger was presented with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his work with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Foundation, the Inner-City Games Foundation and the Special Olympics. The award was presented by former CNN host Larry King, left. Hide Caption 43 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan, in November 2002 for a three-day goodwill mission as a special guest of the United Nations. He was appointed as a U.N. Messenger of Peace in 2000.

Hide Caption 44 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali U.S. President George W. Bush presents Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on November 9, 2005. Hide Caption 45 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Members of the media watch a video of Ali before the grand opening of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in November 2005. Hide Caption 46 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali's wife, Lonnie, watches as actress Alfre Woodard presents him with the President's Award during the 2009 NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. Hide Caption 47 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali On May 24, 2011, Ali appears at the National Press Club in Washington to publicly appeal to Iranian officials for the release of captive hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. The hikers were released in September 2011, more than two years after their detention.

Hide Caption 48 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses during a photo shoot outside his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, in January 2012. Hide Caption 49 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses for a picture with, from left, Greg Fischer, Len Amato, daughter Laila Ali and Donald Lassere during the U.S. premiere of the HBO film "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" in October 2013. Hide Caption 50 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali A boxing robe worn by Ali, which belonged to the late country singer Waylon Jennings, went up for auction in 2014. Hide Caption Muhammad Ali: The Top 5 Boxers Who Came in the Way of His Boxing Career | Bleacher Report Muhammad Ali: The Top 5 Boxers Who Came in the Way of His Boxing Career Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow Douglas A.

Sonders/Getty Images Muhammad Ali and former US President George Bush 42.2K 38 Comments Muhammad Ali could have attained a perfect winning record before retiring in 1981 if not for the five challengers that got in the way of his boxing career. In 1971, Muhammad Ali was on his 32nd winning streak when he fought and lost to Joe Frasier in New York City via a unanimous decision. Since then, Muhammad Ali lost to five more equally great boxers before finally retiring. After retiring from boxing, Ali was diagnosed in 1983 and found to be suffering from Parkinson's disease. Despite his disability he remains a public figure and was instrumental in setting up a foundation that helps people suffering from Parkinson's disease. Here are five of the great boxers that prevented Muhammad Ali from attaining an unblemished record in his professional career. 1st Loss to Joe Frasier Heavyweight boxer Joe Frasier Muhammad Ali's first loss happened at the hands of Joe Frasier in 1971 via a unanimous decision. It was Ali's first loss in 32 fights. Joe Frasier is an American boxer and a former Olympic champion.

Frasier, who is from Beaufort, North Carolina, is a former world heavyweight champion whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976 with a brief comeback in 1981. In their fight at Madison Square Garden in 1971 , Frazier lost a number of early rounds but took Ali's combinations without backing down. As Ali started to slow in the middle rounds, Frazier came on strong, landing hard shots to the body as well as the powerful left hooks to the head by virtue of Futch's instructions. Consequently, Frazier won a clear, 15-round, unanimous decision. Ali was taken to the hospital immediately after the fight to have his badly swollen jaw x-rayed, and Frazier spent time in the hospital during the ensuing month, the exertions of the fight having been exacerbated by his existing health problems, such as hypertension and a kidney infection. At the time of the fight, Frasier was 27 years old while Ali was 29. The Ali-Norton Trilogy Ken Norton vs Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton first faced each other in Mar. 1973 in San Diego, California.

In their first encounter, Ali lost to Norton via a 12-round split decision. Norton broke Ali's jaw in the 12-round duel. Ali won the rematch, also by split decision, on Sept. 10, 1973, which set up Ali-Frazier II , a non-title rematch with Joe Frazier , who had already lost his title to George Foreman. The bout was held on Jan. 28, 1974, with Ali winning a unanimous 12-round decision. In 1976 or three years after Norton broke Ali's jaw, they fought again in Inglewood, California. Ali won via a 12-round split decision, paving the way for a third and final fight. Their last fight was a 15-rounder which was held in Bronx, New York in Sept. 1976. Ali won the last of their three-part series and retained his WBA/WBC heavyweight titles, which he took from George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire via eighth-round KO. Ali vs.

Leon Spinks Heavyweight boxer Leon Spinks The third man that came in the way of Muhammad Ali's boxing career was Leon Spinks, a fellow American who was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Spinks made history in 1978 when he beat Muhammad Ali in a 15-round split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada and snatched Ali's WBA/WBC heavyweight titles. He won the titles only in his eighth fight, the fastest ascent in history. Ali, who had not been the same since his last fight with Joe Frazier , expected an easy fight, but he was out-hustled by Spinks, who did not seem to tire throughout the bout. The victory over Ali was the peak of Spinks' career. With this victory, Spinks became the only man to ever take a title belt from Muhammad Ali in the ring, since Ali's other losses were contests in which no official world title belt that he was in possession of was on the line. Spinks' iconic gap-toothed grin was featured on the cover of the Feb. 19, 1978 issue of Sports Illustrated . He never again fought as efficiently. In Sept.

1978, Ali and Spinks faced each other again in New Orleans. Ali won via a unanimous decision and took the WBA heavyweight title. Duel with Larry Holmes Larry Holmes (by hickocksports) In 1980, Muhammad Ali fought Larry Holmes, a fellow American boxer from Pennsylvania, who was the reigning Ring Magazine heavyweight champion from 1980-85. The fight took place in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Muhammad Ali was well past his prime and coming out of retirement when he faced Larry Holmes, who was at his absolute best for this fight. It was Ali's last attempt to become a four-time world heavyweight champion. Holmes actually held back after the middle rounds because he could also see that Ali was definitely not the same man who had taught him to box when he served as Ali's sparring partner. At the end of the 10th round, Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee stopped the fight.

Ali blamed his poor performance on thyroid medication that he had been taking, claiming that it helped him lose weight (he weighed 217.5 lbs., his lowest weight since he fought George Foreman in 1974), but it also left him drained for the fight. Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick (Ali's Last Fight before Retirement) Trevor Berbick (by Wikipedia) Muhammad Ali's last professional fight before retiring was against Trevor Berbick, a Jamaican-Canadian heavyweight boxer who briefly held the WBC heavyweight title in 1986. Ali lost to Berbick via a unanimous decision in Nassau, Bahamas in 1981. At the height of his boxing career, Berbick had trouble with the law despite his religious background. Berbick had been arrested a number of times and was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting his children's baby sitter in 1992. He was subsequently deported from the US. Berbick, who was once a preacher at the Moments of Miracles Pentecostal Church in Las Vegas, was murdered by his nephew over a land dispute in his native Jamaica in 2006.

Berbick has three sons who live in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. Muhammad Ali hospitalized with respiratory issue - CNN.com Muhammad Ali hospitalized with respiratory issue By Jill Martin , CNN Updated 8:41 PM ET, Fri June 3, 2016 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED My father: Muhammad Ali 03:27 Story highlights Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized, his family spokesperson said Ali is being treated by his team of doctors for a respiratory issue and is in fair condition (CNN) Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized, his family spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. According to Ali's spokesperson, Bob Gunnell, Ali is being treated by his team of doctors for a respiratory issue and is in fair condition. "A brief hospital stay is expected," the statement said. Ali, 74, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, previously was hospitalized in January 2015 with a urinary tract infection. He also was hospitalized in December 2014 with pneumonia. Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Since winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, Muhammad Ali has never been far from the public eye.

Take a look at the life and career of Ali, the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The Greatest." Hide Caption 1 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, poses in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, prior to his amateur boxing debut in 1954. He was 12 years old and 85 pounds. As an amateur, he won 100 out of 108 fights. Hide Caption 2 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he claimed a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division. Hide Caption 3 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali boldly predicted it would take him five rounds to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper ahead of their bout in London in 1963. The fight was stopped in the fifth round as Cooper was bleeding heavily from a cut around his eye. Hide Caption 4 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Patrick Power, 6, takes on Ali in the ring in 1963. Patrick was taking boxing lessons after getting bullied.

Hide Caption 5 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses for a picture with The Beatles in Miami, during the run-up to his heavyweight title fight against Sonny Liston in 1964. Hide Caption 6 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali celebrates after defeating Liston in Miami on February 25, 1964. Upon becoming world heavyweight champion for the first time, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest!" Hide Caption 7 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali relaxes after his win over Liston in 1964. At 22, he became the youngest boxer to take the heavyweight title from a reigning champion. Hide Caption 8 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Civil rights activist Malcolm X, left, takes a picture of a tuxedo-clad Ali surrounded by jubilant fans in March 1964. Shortly after the Liston fight, Ali announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay.

Hide Caption 9 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Known for being as quick with his mouth as he was with his hands, Ali often taunted his opponents. He famously said he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali prepares to defend his heavyweight title in 1965. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali stands over Liston during their rematch in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali eats at a restaurant in 1965. Hide Caption 13 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali The referee pushes Ali to a neutral corner as Floyd Patterson slumps to the canvas in November 1965. The fight was stopped at the end of the 12th round and Ali was declared the winner. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali signs an autograph for a fan in 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali visits a children's home in London in May 1966.

Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali trains for his second fight against British champion Henry Cooper in May 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali British talk-show host Eamonn Andrews shares a laugh with Ali in May 1966. Hide Caption 18 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali lands a right to the head of Brian London during their bout in London on August 6, 1966. Ali won by a knockout in the third round. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali looks in his hotel-room mirror in February 1967. Hide Caption 20 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali The referee counts as Ali looks down at Zora Folley during a championship fight in New York on March 23, 1967. Ali won by a knockout in the seventh round. Hide Caption 21 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army in April 1967. Here, top athletes from various sports gather to support Ali as he gives his reasons for rejecting the draft.

Seated in the front row, from left to right, are Bill Russell, Ali, Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Hide Caption 22 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali walks through the streets of New York with members of the Black Panther Party in September 1970. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for his refusal to enter the draft, and he was also stripped of his boxing title. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in 1971, but by that time Ali had already become a figurehead of resistance and a hero to many. Related: Photographer fondly recalls his three days with Ali Hide Caption 23 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali On November 2, 1970, Ali returned to the ring for his first professional fight in three years. He defeated Jerry Quarry in the third round. Hide Caption 24 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse to fight for Frazier's title on March 8, 1971, in New York.

Frazier won by unanimous decision, handing Ali his first professional loss. Hide Caption 25 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali toys with the finely combed hair of television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials in August 1972. Hide Caption 26 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Frazier appear on "The Dick Cavett Show" in January 1974. The two got into a brawl in ABC's New York studio and were fined $5,000 each. Hide Caption 27 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali passes a cheering crowd in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), on September 28, 1974. Ali was in the country to fight George Foreman, who had recently defeated Frazier to win the title.

Hide Caption 28 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Foreman fight October 30, 1974, in what was billed as "The Rumble in the Jungle." Ali, a huge underdog, knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the title that was stripped from him in 1967. Hide Caption 29 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali addresses a Nation of Islam meeting in London in December 1974. The following year, Ali left the Nation and embraced a more mainstream Islamic faith. Hide Caption 30 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali offers advice to future opponent Richard Dunn in March 1976. Ali defeated Dunn in the fifth round two months later. It was his last knockout win. Hide Caption 31 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and his third wife, Veronica, second from right, visit the Kremlin in Moscow in June 1978. The two were married from 1977 to 1986. Ali was married four times.

Hide Caption 32 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali takes his daily run along a Pennsylvania country road, shrouded in early morning fog, in 1978. Hide Caption 33 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali takes a hit from Leon Spinks during their title fight in New Orleans on September 15, 1978. Ali won by unanimous decision, regaining the title he lost to Spinks earlier that year. Hide Caption 34 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali sits with his daughters Laila and Hana at the Grosvenor House in London in December 1978. He briefly retired from professional boxing the following year. Hide Caption 35 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali came out of retirement on October 2, 1980, for a title fight with Larry Holmes and a guaranteed purse of $8 million. Holmes won easily, beating up Ali until the fight was stopped after the 10th round.

Hide Caption 36 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Trevor Berbick weigh in for their fight in the Bahamas in December 1981. Berbick won by unanimous decision. It was Ali's last professional fight. Hide Caption 37 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali prays at a mosque in Cairo in October 1986. Two years prior, he revealed that he had Parkinson's syndrome, a disorder of the central nervous system. Hide Caption 38 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali In 1990, Ali met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of 15 American hostages in Iraq and Kuwait. Here, Ali leaves Iraq with the hostages on December 2, 1990. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali lights the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Hide Caption 40 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, gives Ali a replacement gold medal in 1996.

Ali had thrown his 1960 gold medal into the Ohio River after he was criticized for not fighting in Vietnam. Hide Caption 41 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and his fourth wife, Lonnie, unveil his special-edition Wheaties box in February 1999. The box marked the cereal's 75th anniversary, and it was the first time a boxer appeared on the cover. Hide Caption 42 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger raises Ali's hand during the Celebrity Fight Night charity event in Phoenix in March 2002. Schwarzenegger was presented with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his work with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Foundation, the Inner-City Games Foundation and the Special Olympics. The award was presented by former CNN host Larry King, left. Hide Caption 43 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan, in November 2002 for a three-day goodwill mission as a special guest of the United Nations. He was appointed as a U.N. Messenger of Peace in 2000.

Hide Caption 44 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali U.S. President George W. Bush presents Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on November 9, 2005. Hide Caption 45 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Members of the media watch a video of Ali before the grand opening of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in November 2005. Hide Caption 46 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali's wife, Lonnie, watches as actress Alfre Woodard presents him with the President's Award during the 2009 NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. Hide Caption 47 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali On May 24, 2011, Ali appears at the National Press Club in Washington to publicly appeal to Iranian officials for the release of captive hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. The hikers were released in September 2011, more than two years after their detention.

Hide Caption 48 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses during a photo shoot outside his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, in January 2012. Hide Caption 49 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses for a picture with, from left, Greg Fischer, Len Amato, daughter Laila Ali and Donald Lassere during the U.S. premiere of the HBO film "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" in October 2013. Hide Caption 50 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali A boxing robe worn by Ali, which belonged to the late country singer Waylon Jennings, went up for auction in 2014. Hide Caption What made Muhammad Ali 'The Greatest'? - CNN.com What made Muhammad Ali 'The Greatest'? By Matias Grez , CNN Updated 0405 GMT (1205 HKT) June 5, 2016 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Since winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, Muhammad Ali has never been far from the public eye.

Take a look at the life and career of Ali, the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The Greatest." Hide Caption 1 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, poses in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, prior to his amateur boxing debut in 1954. He was 12 years old and 85 pounds. As an amateur, he won 100 out of 108 fights. Hide Caption 2 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he claimed a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division. Hide Caption 3 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali boldly predicted it would take him five rounds to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper ahead of their bout in London in 1963. The fight was stopped in the fifth round as Cooper was bleeding heavily from a cut around his eye. Hide Caption 4 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Patrick Power, 6, takes on Ali in the ring in 1963. Patrick was taking boxing lessons after getting bullied.

Hide Caption 5 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses for a picture with The Beatles in Miami, during the run-up to his heavyweight title fight against Sonny Liston in 1964. Hide Caption 6 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali celebrates after defeating Liston in Miami on February 25, 1964. Upon becoming world heavyweight champion for the first time, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest!" Hide Caption 7 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali relaxes after his win over Liston in 1964. At 22, he became the youngest boxer to take the heavyweight title from a reigning champion. Hide Caption 8 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Civil rights activist Malcolm X, left, takes a picture of a tuxedo-clad Ali surrounded by jubilant fans in March 1964. Shortly after the Liston fight, Ali announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay.

Hide Caption 9 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Known for being as quick with his mouth as he was with his hands, Ali often taunted his opponents. He famously said he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali prepares to defend his heavyweight title in 1965. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali stands over Liston during their rematch in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali eats at a restaurant in 1965. Hide Caption 13 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali The referee pushes Ali to a neutral corner as Floyd Patterson slumps to the canvas in November 1965. The fight was stopped at the end of the 12th round and Ali was declared the winner. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali signs an autograph for a fan in 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali visits a children's home in London in May 1966.

Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali trains for his second fight against British champion Henry Cooper in May 1966. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali British talk-show host Eamonn Andrews shares a laugh with Ali in May 1966. Hide Caption 18 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali lands a right to the head of Brian London during their bout in London on August 6, 1966. Ali won by a knockout in the third round. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali looks in his hotel-room mirror in February 1967. Hide Caption 20 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali The referee counts as Ali looks down at Zora Folley during a championship fight in New York on March 23, 1967. Ali won by a knockout in the seventh round. Hide Caption 21 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army in April 1967. Here, top athletes from various sports gather to support Ali as he gives his reasons for rejecting the draft.

Seated in the front row, from left to right, are Bill Russell, Ali, Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Hide Caption 22 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali walks through the streets of New York with members of the Black Panther Party in September 1970. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for his refusal to enter the draft, and he was also stripped of his boxing title. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in 1971, but by that time Ali had already become a figurehead of resistance and a hero to many. Related: Photographer fondly recalls his three days with Ali Hide Caption 23 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali On November 2, 1970, Ali returned to the ring for his first professional fight in three years. He defeated Jerry Quarry in the third round. Hide Caption 24 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse to fight for Frazier's title on March 8, 1971, in New York.

Frazier won by unanimous decision, handing Ali his first professional loss. Hide Caption 25 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali toys with the finely combed hair of television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials in August 1972. Hide Caption 26 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Frazier appear on "The Dick Cavett Show" in January 1974. The two got into a brawl in ABC's New York studio and were fined $5,000 each. Hide Caption 27 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali passes a cheering crowd in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), on September 28, 1974. Ali was in the country to fight George Foreman, who had recently defeated Frazier to win the title.

Hide Caption 28 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Foreman fight October 30, 1974, in what was billed as "The Rumble in the Jungle." Ali, a huge underdog, knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the title that was stripped from him in 1967. Hide Caption 29 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali addresses a Nation of Islam meeting in London in December 1974. The following year, Ali left the Nation and embraced a more mainstream Islamic faith. Hide Caption 30 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali offers advice to future opponent Richard Dunn in March 1976. Ali defeated Dunn in the fifth round two months later. It was his last knockout win. Hide Caption 31 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and his third wife, Veronica, second from right, visit the Kremlin in Moscow in June 1978. The two were married from 1977 to 1986. Ali was married four times.

Hide Caption 32 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali takes his daily run along a Pennsylvania country road, shrouded in early morning fog, in 1978. Hide Caption 33 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali takes a hit from Leon Spinks during their title fight in New Orleans on September 15, 1978. Ali won by unanimous decision, regaining the title he lost to Spinks earlier that year. Hide Caption 34 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali sits with his daughters Laila and Hana at the Grosvenor House in London in December 1978. He briefly retired from professional boxing the following year. Hide Caption 35 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali came out of retirement on October 2, 1980, for a title fight with Larry Holmes and a guaranteed purse of $8 million. Holmes won easily, beating up Ali until the fight was stopped after the 10th round.

Hide Caption 36 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and Trevor Berbick weigh in for their fight in the Bahamas in December 1981. Berbick won by unanimous decision. It was Ali's last professional fight. Hide Caption 37 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali prays at a mosque in Cairo in October 1986. Two years prior, he revealed that he had Parkinson's syndrome, a disorder of the central nervous system. Hide Caption 38 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali In 1990, Ali met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of 15 American hostages in Iraq and Kuwait. Here, Ali leaves Iraq with the hostages on December 2, 1990. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali lights the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Hide Caption 40 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, gives Ali a replacement gold medal in 1996.

Ali had thrown his 1960 gold medal into the Ohio River after he was criticized for not fighting in Vietnam. Hide Caption 41 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali and his fourth wife, Lonnie, unveil his special-edition Wheaties box in February 1999. The box marked the cereal's 75th anniversary, and it was the first time a boxer appeared on the cover. Hide Caption 42 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger raises Ali's hand during the Celebrity Fight Night charity event in Phoenix in March 2002. Schwarzenegger was presented with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his work with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Foundation, the Inner-City Games Foundation and the Special Olympics. The award was presented by former CNN host Larry King, left. Hide Caption 43 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan, in November 2002 for a three-day goodwill mission as a special guest of the United Nations. He was appointed as a U.N. Messenger of Peace in 2000.

Hide Caption 44 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali U.S. President George W. Bush presents Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on November 9, 2005. Hide Caption 45 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Members of the media watch a video of Ali before the grand opening of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in November 2005. Hide Caption 46 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali's wife, Lonnie, watches as actress Alfre Woodard presents him with the President's Award during the 2009 NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. Hide Caption 47 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali On May 24, 2011, Ali appears at the National Press Club in Washington to publicly appeal to Iranian officials for the release of captive hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. The hikers were released in September 2011, more than two years after their detention.

Hide Caption 48 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses during a photo shoot outside his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, in January 2012. Hide Caption 49 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali poses for a picture with, from left, Greg Fischer, Len Amato, daughter Laila Ali and Donald Lassere during the U.S. premiere of the HBO film "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" in October 2013. Hide Caption 50 of 52 Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali A boxing robe worn by Ali, which belonged to the late country singer Waylon Jennings, went up for auction in 2014. Hide Caption Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali Ali is seen with singer Carrie Underwood at a charity event in Phoenix in April. Hide Caption Muhammad Ali - boxing Topics - ESPN Personal Muhammad Ali is a former heavyweight champion boxer. A three-time heavyweight champion, Ali is widely considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Before turning professional, Ali won a gold medal as a light heavyweight at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Born Cassius Clay, Ali changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam in 1964. Because of religious beliefs, Ali refused to serve for the U.S. military and was arrested and put on trial. Along with his legal woes, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight championship and had his boxing license suspended. The Supreme Court would eventually rule in Ali's favor in Clay v. United States in 1971. During his prime, Ali was involved in two of the greatest fights in boxing history, taking part in "The Thrilla in Manila" against Joe Frazier and "The Rumble in the Jungle" against George Foreman. After his retirement from boxing, Ali was diagnosed in 1984 with Parkinson's disease, which has severely affected his speech and mobility. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born on Jan. 17, 1942, in Louisville, Ky. to Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay. He was the younger of two children, as Clay had an older brother, Rahman, who was born as Rudolph Valentino Clay. Clay started boxing at the age of 12 after his bike was stolen.

Clay told Joe Martin, a police officer, that he wanted to beat up the thief. Along with being a police officer, Martin also trained boxers and persuaded Clay to work out at the local gym. His boxing career was born, and Clay had his first amateur fight in 1954, winning by split decision. In 1956, Clay won the Golden Gloves Championship in the light heavyweight division. Three years later Clay won the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions and the Amateur Athletic Union light heavyweight national title. After graduating high school, Clay competed for the United States Olympic boxing team in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Clay took home the gold medal in the light heavyweight division after defeating Zbigniew Pietryzkowski from Poland. Clay finished with an amateur record of 100-5 before turning professional after the Olympics. Cassius Clay made his professional debut on Oct. 29, 1960, in a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker at the Freedom Hall State Fairground in Louisville, Ky. Clay steamrolled through the competition during the first three years of his professional career.

He was so dominant that he was able to correctly predict in what round he would knock out his opponents. In June 1963, Clay traveled to London to take on British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper. In front of a pro-Cooper crowd at Wembley Stadium, Clay won by technical knockout in the fifth round. Despite his victory over Cooper, Clay was the underdog before stepping in the ring against Sonny Liston in 1964. Of 46 writers, 43 picked Liston to defeat Clay. The two squared off on Feb. 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Fla. Clay was a 7-to-1 underdog but scored the upset victory over Liston after he didn't come out for the seventh round thanks to a shoulder injury. Clay won the heavyweight championship for the first time in his young career. After the fight, Clay celebrated with a dance in the ring and yelled, "I'm the greatest" and "I shook up the world!" It would go down as one of the most historic moments in Clay's career. The day after the fight, Clay changed his name from Cassius Clay to Cassius X after joining the Nation of Islam.

Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad eventually settled on the name of Muhammad Ali for Clay. "Muhammad" means worthy of praise, and "Ali" was the name of a cousin of the prophets. Ali and Liston would step in the ring a year later in a rematch. The fight didn't make it past the first round after a so-called "phantom punch" from Ali knocked out Liston before only 2,434 fans in Maine. Ali also had little trouble with Floyd Patterson in 1965, going 12 rounds with the former champion before the fight was stopped. On Mar. 22, 1967, Ali defeated Zora Folley at Madison Square Garden, in what turned out to be his last fight for quite some time. Vietnam War Ali's victory over Folley would be his last fight for more than three years. Since the country was in the middle of the Vietnam War, the United States Armed Forces drafted Ali to serve for his country. In 1964, Ali failed the qualifying test because of his subpar writing and spelling skills. However, Ali was later reclassified in 1966 as 1A, making him eligible for induction into the U.S.

Army. Ali was outspoken about serving in the war and publicly said he wouldn't go to Vietnam if he was drafted. He said that the war went against the teachings in the Quran and famously said, "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... they never called me n-----." Ali appeared at his scheduled induction into the U.S. Army on Apr. 28, 1967, in Houston. An officer called Ali's name three times, and he refused to step forward. After an officer warned him of the consequences, Ali was arrested for committing a felony that was punishable by five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. As a result of his arrest and induction refusal, Ali was stripped of the heavyweight title and had his boxing license suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission. Other boxing commissions followed suit and did the same. Ali's case went to trail on June 20, 1967. After just 21 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Ali guilty, and the judge imposed he maximum sentence. A court of appeals upheld Ali's conviction, and the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

While Ali was waiting for the Supreme Court to hear his case, he was gaining more public support for his views on the war. Ali returned to the ring while waiting for the Supreme Court ruling, fighting in Georgia, which didn't have a boxing commission. On Oct. 26, 1970, Ali needed just three rounds to defeat Jerry Quarry. On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in Ali's favor and reversed his conviction by unanimous decision in Clay v. United States. Return to the ring With his legal issues resolved, Muhammad Ali moved forward full-time with his boxing career. While waiting for the Supreme Court to rule, the New York State Supreme Court had denied Ali a boxing license unjustly. After he was granted a license to fight in New York, Ali defeated Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 7, 1970. Ali's victory over Bonavena paved the way for a showdown between the undefeated Joe Frazier. The bout was dubbed "The Fight of the Century," and Ali and Frazier were undefeated headed into their March 8, 1971, fight at Madison Square Garden.

Ali started off strong, holding the advantage over Frazier during the first three rounds. Frazier was able to keep things close before taking the advantage in the 11th round. Ali managed to escape from serious trouble until Round 15, when Frazier knocked him down for just the third time in his career. A shaken Ali got up and finished the final round, but the damage had been done. Ali had suffered his first professional loss as Frazier won by unanimous decision, retaining his heavyweight championship. Ali rebounded with six victories in 1972, notching wins over Floyd Patterson and Jerry Quarry. He then defended the NABF heavyweight title against Ken Norton on March 31, 1973. Norton managed to break Ali's jaw in the fight and won by split decision. Ali was able to seek redemption against Norton by winning back his NABF championship in a split-decision rematch that didn't live up to the hype. Ali got his rematch with Frazier in 1974 at Madison Square Garden. The winner of the fight would be in line to challenge George Foreman for the heavyweight title.

Before the fight, Ali and Frazier got into a fight on the set of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" in New York. The fighters were reviewing their first fight when Ali called Frazier ignorant. In the actual fight, Ali won a unanimous 12-round decision over Frazier. "The Rumble in the Jungle" With the win over Frazier, Ali finally had the opportunity to regain the heavyweight title he was stripped of in 1967. Rising star Foreman held the heavyweight championship after knocking down Frazier six times in a span of two rounds. New boxing promoter Don King talked Ali and Foreman into signing separate contracts with the impression that he would be able to get $5 million for both fighters. Since King didn't have the money, he accepted an offer from Zaire president Mobutu Sese Seko to host the fight at Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa. The fight was dubbed "The Rumble in the Jungle," and Ali and Foreman spent the summer of 1974 training in Zaire. Originally scheduled for September, the fight was pushed back until Oct. 30 after Foreman was injured during training.

The young Foreman was a 7-to-1 favorite over Ali heading into the bout, which was fought in the early morning in Zaire. Ali had a secret plan for Foreman, and the boxing world got its first glance at the "rope-a-dope" in the second round. Ali leaned on the ropes while covering up his body as Foreman threw punches that were deflected and didn't land squarely. After several rounds of this strategy, Foreman started to tire in the ring while Ali's trademark taunting was in full effect. In the eighth round, Ali knocked Foreman down after a series of combinations. Foreman just made it up before the standing 10 count, but referee Zack Clayton stopped the fight. Ali handed Foreman his first loss and became the second heavyweight to regain his championship. Ali successfully defended his heavyweight championship against Chuck Wepner on March 24, 1975, despite getting knocked down in the ninth round. A documentary titled "When We Were Kings" was released in 1996 that focused on the buildup to the fight. The documentary won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. The Thrilla in Manila Ali and Frazier met for the third and final time on Oct.

1, 1975 in the Philippines. Less than a year after King scheduled a fight in Zaire, Ali and Frazier traveled to Quezon City in Metro Manila. The rivalry between the two fighters reached a boiling point after Frazier felt Ali betrayed him after being such a vocal supporter for him during his three-plus years away from the ring. Ali stuck to what he knew best, trash-talking. He taunted Frazier by referring to him as a gorilla. The two men slugged it out in what would go down as one of the greatest fights in the 20th century. With Frazier's eye swelling shut, Ali took advantage in Round 14. Frazier practically couldn't see out of one eye, and that forced trainer Eddie Futch to step in and throw in the towel before the start of the 15th and final round. After the win, Ali said that this was the closest to dying he had ever come, as both fighters battled 100-degree temperatures. Back in the states, Ali easily defeated Jean-Pierre Coopman, Jimmy Young and Richard Dunn. Ali scheduled an exhibition match with Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo.

Inoki also studied mixed martial arts, and there were several stipulations and rules added in the match. Because of Inoki's strategy, Ali was able to land only six punches while suffering repeated kicks to his legs. The fight ended in a draw as Ali suffered an infection and two blood clots in his legs. After Ali recovered from his injury, he successfully defended his heavyweight championship against Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 28, 1976, in a unanimous decision. Ali lost his heavyweight title to 1976 Olympic gold medalist Leon Spinks on Feb. 15, 1978 in a split decision. After underestimating Spinks, Ali got revenge in a rematch seven months later. Following the victory, Ali retired on June 27, 1979. He returned to the ring on Oct. 2, 1980, against Larry Holmes in an attempt to win the heavyweight championship for the fourth time. Holmes was too much for the 38-year-old Ali, and trainer Angelo Dundee refused to let him finish the fight. Ali was trailing on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped before the 11th round.

Ali's last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Trevor Berbick in 1981. Retiring for good, Ali finished his career with a 56-5 professional record. The day after his loss to Trevor Berbick, Muhammad Ali announced his retirement from boxing in 1981. In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was a result of the severe head trauma suffered during his time in the ring. The neurological syndrome affects his movement and speech to this day. In 1996, Ali was given the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron in Atlanta for the 1996 Summer Olympics. A noticeably shaky Ali was the first boxer to light the cauldron. Later during the Olympics, Ali received a replacement medal for his 1960 gold medal, which he said he had thrown into the Ohio River after being refused service at a whites-only restaurant. In 1997, Ali was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award as part of the ESPY Awards. The BBC voted Ali as its sports personality of the century in 1999. In 2001, a biographical film on Ali's career was made.

Entitled "Ali," the film starred Will Smith as Muhammad Ali and was directed by Michael Mann. Smith and Jon Voight earned Academy Award nominations. President George W. Bush awarded Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. The Muhammad Ali Center opened on Nov. 19, 2005 in his hometown of Louisville, Ky. The $80 million, six-story museum and cultural center was built as a tribute to Ali. There have been a series of books released on Ali, but his autobiography, "The Greatest: My Own Story," was published in 1975 and written with Richard Durham. His autobiography was eventually adapted into a film, "The Greatest," released in 1977 and starring Ali as himself. Nicknamed "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali is regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. During his 21-year professional career, Ali defeated every top heavyweight during the era. Ali was named Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine five times and was involved in its Fight of the Year five times as well. In 1998, Ali was named the greatest heavyweight in all eras by Ring Magazine.

According to an ESPN.com poll, Ali was voted as the second greatest fighter of all time behind Sugar Ray Robinson. Ali has appeared on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" 37 times, second among all athletes behind Michael Jordan. Along with his skills in the ring, Ali was also known for his showmanship. Never shy, Ali often boasted as being the prettiest fighter along with being the best. Ali had so many memorable quotes that a book written by George Lois, "Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali, the first Heavyweight Champion of Rap," featured a collection of Ali's best lines during his career. Muhammad Ali is currently married to Yolanda Ali. The two married in 1986 and have one adopted son, Asaad. Before his marriage to Yolanda, Ali was married three times. In 1964, Ali married Sonji Roi, and they were married for two years. In 1967, a 25-year-old Ali married 17-year-old Belinda Boyd. The couple had four children together (Maryum, Jamillah, Liban, Muhammad Ali Jr.). Ali and Boyd ended their marriage after he began an affair with Veronica Porsche.

Ali and Porsche married in 1977 and had two daughters, Hana and Laila. The two divorced in 1986. Laila followed in her father's footsteps and pursued a career as a professional boxer. She went 24-0 before retiring. Ali resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. VIDEO RESULTS FOR MUHAMMAD ALI

Question: Who was the last boxer defeated by Muhammad Ali?
Answer: LEON SPINKS