Muhammad Ali
Titles: Heavyweight champion from 1964-1967, 1974-1978 and 1978-1979
Record: 56-5-0 (37 K.O's)
Born: January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky (USA)
Years active: 1960-1981
Nickname: "The Greatest" or "The Louisville lip"
Formerly known as Cassius Clay, probably the best known fighter to ever
step into the ring and the best known athlete ever. Ali brought showmanship,
excitement and unbelievable talent to the world of boxing. As a fighter
he possessed the fastest hands anyone had ever witnessed at the heavyweight
level. His defense rivaled Tunney and Johnson and when his defense failed him
he had a chin that could take the punishment. His detractors claim he never
possessed a real good heavyweight punch, the reason may be that like Jack
Johnson he preferred to fight in a different style. After he won a Olympic
gold medal at light heavyweight Ali began his pro career with a brashness
never seen before. In his early days he was truly beautiful to watch as
his lightning fast hands and feet left his opponents confused loosers.
Early wins over good opposition like Willi Besmanoff and George Logan set
up his first challenge as he defeated the crafty Archie in 4 one sided
rounds. Good wins over Doug Jones and Henry Cooper set up a title shot at
the seemingly invincible Sonny Liston. Ali shocked the boxing establishment
with his upset win over Sonny Liston and made him a superstar overnight.
It was after this fight that he converted to the Muslim faith and changed
his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. The second fight with Liston
eneded in controversial fashion as Ali landed the famous "Phantom Punch"
that few saw but others claimed was a perfectly timed shot to the chin of
Liston. Ali refused induction to the Army on religious grounds and was
unjustly striped of his title. In a sense Ali was 2 different boxers.
Before 1967 he was built for speed and youthful exuberance. When he returned
from his forced 3 year exile (for his refusal on religious grounds to join
the U.S Army) he was slower but much more cunning. Speed and his excellent
chin were the keys to his greatness. Ali is of course most known for his
2 victorie and one loss with rival Joe Frasier. Ali went on to beat another
seemingly unbeatable foe in George Forman before the his controversial
3 fights with Ken Norten in which many will tell Ali lost all 3 but was
given the decision in 2. By then however Ali was nowhere near the lightning
fast combination puncher he used to be. Ali went on to become the first
man to win the heavyweight crown 3 times when he defeated Leon Spinks in
a rematch.
Muhammad Ali
Career Record: 56 W, 5 L (37 K.O's)
1960
Oct 29 Tunney Hunsaker Louisville, KY W6
Dec 27 Herb Siler Miami Beach, FL KO4
1961
Jan 17 Tony Esperti Miami Beach, FL KO3
Feb 7 Jim Robinson Miami Beach, FL KO1
Feb 21 Donnie Fleeman Miami Beach, FL KO7
Apr 19 Lamar Clark Louisville, KY KO2
Jun 26 Duke Sabedong Las Vegas, NV W10
Jul 22 Alonzo Johnson Louisville, KY W10
Oct 7 Alex Miteff Louisville, KY KO6
Nov 29 Willi Besmanoff Louisville, KY KO7
1962
Feb 19 Sonny Banks New York, NY KO4
Mar 28 Don Warner Miami Beach, FL KO4
Apr 23 George Logan Los Angeles, CA KO6
May 19 Billy Daniels New York, NY KO7
Jul 20 Alejandro Lavorante Los Angeles, CA KO5
Nov 15 Archie Moore Los Angeles, CA KO4
1963
Jan 24 Charlie Powell Pittsburgh, PA KO3
Mar 13 Doug Jones New York, NY W10
Jun 18 Henry Cooper London KO5
1964
Feb 25 Sonny Liston Miami Beach, FL,
(Won world heavyweight title)
1965
May 25 Sonny Liston Lewiston, Maine, KO1
(Retained world championship)
Nov 22 Floyd Patterson Las Vegas KO12
(Retained world championship)
1966
Mar 29 George Chuvalo Toronto W15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
May 21 Henry Cooper London KO6
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
Aug 6 Brian London London KO3
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
Sep 10 Karl Mildenberger Frankfurt, Germany KO12
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
Nov 14 Cleveland Williams Houston, TX KO3
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1967
Feb 6 Ernie Terrell Houston, TX W15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title, wins WBA Title)
Mar 22 Zora Folley New York, NY KO7
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1970
Oct 26 Jerry Quarry Atlanta KO3
Dec 7 Oscar Bonavena New York KO15
1971
Mar 8 Joe Frazier New York L15
(For World championship)
Jul 26 Jimmy Ellis Houston, TX KO12
(Won Vacant NABF Heavyweight Title)
Nov 17 Buster Mathis Houston, TX W12
Dec 26 Jurgen Blin Zurich, Switzerland KO7
1972
Apr 1 Mac Foster Tokyo W15
May 1 George Chuvalo Vancouver, B.C W12
(Retained NABF Heavyweight Title)
Jun 27 Jerry Quarry Las Vegas KO7
(retained NABF Heavweight title)
Jul 19 Al Lewis Dublin KO11
Sep 20 Floyd Patterson New York KO7
(Retained NABF Heavyweight Title)
1973
Feb 14 Joe Bugner Las Vegas W12
Mar 31 Ken Norton San Diego L12
(Lost NABF Heavyweight Title)
Sep 10 Ken Norton Los Angeles W12
(Regained NABF Heavyweight Title)
Oct 21 Rudi Lubbers Jakarta, Indonesia W12
1974
Jan 28 Joe Frazier New York W12
(Retained NABF Heavyweight Title)
Oct 30 George Foreman Kinshasa, Zaire KO8
(Won World Championship)
1975
Mar 24 Chuck Wepner Cleveland KO15
(Retained world championship)
May 16 Ron Lyle Las Vegas KO11
(Retained world championship)
Jun 30 Joe Bugner Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia W15
(Retained world championship)
Sep 30 Joe Frazier Manila, Philippines KO14
(Retained world championship)
1976
20 Feb Jean Pierre Coopman San Juan, PR KO5
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
30 Apr Jimmy Young Landover, MD W15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
24 May Richard Dunn Munich, Germany KO5
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
28 Sep Ken Norton New York W15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1977
16 May Alfredo Evangelista Landover, MD W 15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
29 Sep Earnie Shavers New York, NY W 15
(Retained World Heavyweight Title)
1978
Feb 15 Leon Spinks Las Vegas L15
(Lost World Championship)
Sep 15 Leon Spinks New Orleans W15
(Won World Championship)
1980
Oct 2 Larry Holmes Las Vegas KOby11
(For World Heavyweight Title)
1981
Dec 11 Trevor Berbick Nassau, Bahamas L10