Muhammad Ali beat more champions and top contenders than any heavyweight champion in history. He defeated heavyweight kings Sonny Liston (twice), Floyd Patterson (twice), Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Ken Norton (twice), Joe Frazier (twice), George Foreman, and Leon Spinks. He defeated light-heavyweight champs Archie Moore and Bob Foster. Ali defeated European Heavyweight Champions Henry Cooper, Karl Mildenberger, Jurgin Blin, Joe Bugner, Richard Dunn, Jean-Pierre Coopman and Alfredo Evangelista. He defeated British & Commonwealth king Brian London. All of Ali's defeats were to heavyweight champions: Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. Also beat undefeated fighters Sonny Banks (12-0), Billy Daniels (16-0), Rudi Lubbers (21-0) and George Foreman (40-0).


Former heavyweight boxing champion Ali learned early from the outrageous bad-guy wrestler, Gorgeous George, that it could pay to be hated. Ali said "I saw fifteen thousand people coming to see this man get beat, and his talking did it. I said, this is a goo-o-o-d idea!" Then Ali refined that talking concept to what has been referred to as The Louisville Lip. Brother of Rahaman Ali Suffers from Parkinson's Syndrome, caused by the numerous blows to the head during his boxing career. Took in interest in boxing when his bike was stolen by local hoods. Has a record of 56-5 with 37 KOs. In order to pay his legal fees (since he was barred from boxing), Ali hit the college lecture circuit and even starred in the Broadway Musical "Buck White". In 1962, Ali signed for Selective Service, but he failed the mental aptitude test, and was classified 1-Y (unfit for service). But, when the US armed forces required more soldiers for the Vietnam War, the pass-percentage marks for the tests were dropped to 15, meaning that Ali (and thousands of other men) was re-classified 1-A, now fit for service. Married second wife Khalilah 'Belinda' Ali when she was 17. Legend has it that Ali threw his 1960 Olympic gold medal into the river, when in reality he just simply lost it at some point in time. Is referenced in the song 'Powder Blue', by U.S. band 'Ween'. Has portrayed himself in four different motion pictures. Had an amateur boxing record of 127 wins and only 5 defeats. Inactive for 3 and a half years while fighting his draft evasion case in court. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush on 9 November 2005. Other recipients were Frank Robinson, Gen. Richard Myers, Paul Rusesabagina, Carol Burnett, Andy Griffith, Aretha Franklin, Vint Cerf and his Internet co-developer Robert Kahn, Jack Nicklaus, Alan Greenspan, and former congressman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery. In 62 pro boxing matches, Ali was only stopped once; by Larry Holmes on a technical knockout. Ali was never counted out, but was unable to come out for round 11 in their title fight. First man to knock down Sonny Liston, George Foreman, and Chuck Wepner. Trained by Joe Martin (1953-1959) as an amateur, Archie Moore (1960-1961) and Angelo Dundee (1961-1980). Father of Laila Ali. Met The Beatles while training to fight Sonny Liston, and posed for photos with them in a boxing ring. Declared afterward that they were the greatest, but he was "still the prettiest". Wanted the role of "Bilal" in The Message (1976) but director declined. Was photographed with American actor 'David J Silver' during his visit to Arizona. He attended a lavished dinner at the Palms Hotel in Paradise Valley for his famed 2004 Fight Night Celebrity charity at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. The only fighter to win a decision over Joe Frazier (their second fight). He was the only fighter to score a KO of George Foreman and Oscar Bonnavena. He was awarded a Star on the HOllywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.