There has never been anybody in the history of boxing quite like Muhammad Ali.
To earn nicknames like “The Greatest” and “The People’s Champion”, you have to be something special, and Ali was.
Muhammad Ali was a three-time world Heavyweight champion who captured the hearts of the public with his loud mouth and trash-talking, which he backed up with incredible ability in the ring.
The Olympic gold medalist had his prime years taken from him due to his opposition to the Vietnam War, but he returned to become arguably the greatest boxer who ever lived.
Here is everything you need to know about Muhammad Ali.
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How old is Muhammad Ali?
Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, which would make him 83 years old as of September 2025, were he still alive.
How did Muhammad Ali die?
Ali sadly passed away on June 3, 2016, from septic shock, although the specific cause of it is unknown. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s for at least three decades before his death, as well as a host of other health issues.
Muhammad Ali’s height, weight, and reach
Ali stood at six feet three inches during his boxing career, equivalent to 191 cm. After winning the Olympic gold medal in the Light Heavyweight division, he moved up to Heavyweight, where Ali fought between 210lbs and 220 lbs for the bulk of his career.
He also had a reach of 78 inches, which, combined with his incredible speed, allowed him to dominate his opponents with his jab and wear them down throughout a fight.
Who was Muhammad Ali’s wife?
Ali was married four times in his life, firstly to Sonji Roi. They wed in 1964, divorcing before his marriage to Belinda Boyd in 1967.
| Muhammad Ali’s wives | Year of marriage |
| Sonji Roi | 1964 |
| Belinda Boyd | 1967 |
| Veronica Porsche | 1977 |
| Lonnie Ali | 1986 |
They also split up, and Ali married Veronica Porsche before marrying Lonnie Ali, the woman he would stay with for the rest of his life, in 1986.
Who is Muhammad Ali’s grandson?
Ali has two grandsons who are active in professional fighting. Biaggio Ali Walsh fights in MMA in the Lightweight division, while Nico Ali Walsh has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and is a professional boxer.
Muhammad Ali’s boxing record
| Record (W-L-D) | (T)KO |
| 56-5-0 | 37-1 |
Muhammad Ali’s last fight
The 61st and final fight of Ali’s legendary career was a disastrous bout with Trevor Berbick in 1981.
Ali couldn’t get a boxing license on medical grounds in the US, so the bout had to take place in the Bahamas.
Despite Berbick being the exact kind of heavy power-puncher Ali would have easily picked apart in his prime, he struggled against him and began to get hit from the sixth round after getting tired.
Berbick won the bout after 10 rounds via decision, although it was clear that Ali was lucky to make it that far.
What is Muhammad Ali’s real name?
Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, a name which he used well into his boxing career. He won his first world title as Clay, but changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam following his win over Sonny Liston.
Initially, he was known as Cassius X, a nod to civil rights campaigner Malcolm X, before being christened Muhammad Ali.
Muhammad Ali vs Larry Holmes
One of Ali’s worst fights was his clash with Larry Holmes in 1980.
The 39-year-old Ali had recently come out of retirement, attempting to become the first-ever four-time world Heavyweight champion.
It was a sad end for his career, as the clearly past-it Ali was put out to pasture by Holmes, who begged the referee to end the fight before he really hurt his hero if he had to keep fighting him.
Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier
Ali’s trilogy with Joe Frazier is among the most famous boxing matches of all time.
Frazier made history by becoming the first man to beat Ali in their first encounter, winning over 15 rounds in their 1971 encounter.
Ali won the rematch to set up a third fight in the Philippines, which became known as the “Thrilla in Manila”. Reportedly, over a billion people watched the event, which saw Ali knock Frazier out in the 14th round of a fantastic bout.
Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston
Ali became world champion for the first time when he forced Liston to retire after six rounds of their title fight.
Liston was the dominant favorite going into the bout, with the loud-mouthed, much leaner Ali the rank underdog.
However, he finished off Liston before a first-round knockout in the rematch cemented him as the top Heavyweight of the day.
Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman
Ali shocked the world by knocking out George Foreman to regain the world Heavyweight championship in 1974.
Foreman was bigger and stronger than Ali and was the undefeated champion who had knocked out nearly everyone he had faced.
However, Ali used his speed and cunning to wear down Foreman, using the famous rope-a-dope technique before finishing him in the eighth round.
Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks
The bout between Ali and Spinks came at the end of the People’s Champion’s career, but it still smashed records.
Ali’s fight with Spinks saw over 2 billion people watching the bout, hoping to see the “People’s Champion” avenge his defeat earlier that year.
Ali won the fight over 15 rounds, two years before his disastrous final fight.