Birth of Muhammad Ali
Birth of Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Muhammad Ali Biography and Timeline
Follow Muhammad Ali through 35 dated historical records for United States of America.
Muhammad Ali, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
35Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1942–2000Years on this page
1942
1960
Olympic Gold Medal
Wins the Olympic Gold medal & turns professional
Victory-Ali
Ali wins his first professional fight, a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker, who was the police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia
1963
Victory-Ali
Henry Cooper knocks Ali down with a left hook near the end of the fourth round, the fight is stopped in the 5th round due to a deep cut on Coopers face
1964
World Champion
Prior to Alis fight with & defeat of Sonny Liston for his 1st World title he declares that he would "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee"
Nation of Islam
Malcolm X takes Clay on a guided tour of the United Nations building. Malcolm X announced that Clay would be granted his "X". Elijah Muhammad records a statement over the phone to be played over the radio that Clay will be renamed Muhammad (the prophet of Islam) Ali
Nation of Islam
Malcolm X takes Clay on a guided tour of the United Nations building. Malcolm X announced that Clay would be granted his "X". Elijah Muhammad records a statement over the phone to be played over the radio that Clay will be renamed Muhammad (the prophet of Islam) Ali
Nation of Islam
Malcolm X takes Clay on a guided tour of the United Nations building. Malcolm X announced that Clay would be granted his "X"
Black Muslims
Ali reveals that he is a member of the Nation of Islam (called the Black Muslims)
Nation of Islam
Malcolm X provides Clay with the name Cassius X, discarding his surname as a symbol of enslavement. Ali reveals that he is a member of the Nation of Islam (called the Black Muslims)
Black Muslims
Ali reveals that he is a member of the Nation of Islam (called the Black Muslims)
Cassius X
Malcolm X provides Clay with the name Cassius X, discarding his surname as a symbol of enslavement
Nation of Islam
Malcolm X provides Clay with the name Cassius X, discarding his surname as a symbol of enslavement. Ali reveals that he is a member of the Nation of Islam (called the Black Muslims)
1965
World Champion
Retains title by knocking out Sonny Liston
1966
Draft Refusal
"I aint got no quarrel with those Vietcong" and "no Vietcong ever called me nigger". Ali refuses to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector, because "War is against the teachings of the Holy Quran". Ali is banned from fighting in the United States and forced to accept bouts abroad for most of 1966
1967
Ali
Ali is stripped of his title by the boxing commission and not be allowed to fight professionally for more than 3 yrs, he was also convicted for refusing induction into the army and sentenced to 5 yrs in prison
Victory-Ali
Terrle had called Ali Clay prior to the fight, Ali shouts at his opponent, "Whats my name, Uncle Tom ... Whats my name." Terrell suffers 15 rounds of brutal punishment, losing 13 of 15 rounds & knocked out
1970
Boxing License Restored
Returns to boxing after receiving a license in Georgia
Victory over Quarry
Defeats Jerry Quarry in his first fight after exile
Victory over Bonavena
Stops Oscar Bonavena in the fifteenth round
1974
Rumble In The Jungle
Ali regains his title by defeating champion George Foreman in their bizarre bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, hyped as "The Rumble In The Jungle"
Victory-Ali
Ali regains his title by defeating champion George Foreman in their bizarre bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, hyped as "The Rumble In The Jungle"
World Champion
Ali regains his title by defeating champion George Foreman in their bizarre bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, hyped as "The Rumble In The Jungle"
Victory-Ali
Frazier is defeated by Ali in their 2nd fight & Ali earns a title fight with George Foreman
1975
Conversion
Converts to Sunni Islam
Conversion
Converts to Sunni Islam
Victory-Ali
Ali defeats Frazier during the "thriller in Manila"
1976
Victory-Ali
Muhamid Ali defeats Ken Norton on points in a 15 round championship fight
1977
Health of Muhammad Ali
Alis doctor Ferdie Pacheco advises Ali to retire after beginning to see signs of Alis reflexes slowing down
1978
World Champion
Ali regains his title after winning the rematch against Leon Spinks
1979
Retirement
Heavyweight Muhammad Ali confirms that his 3rd retirement is final and he vacates the title
1981
Retirement
Ali retires permanently with a career record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 losses, and as a three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
1996
Olympics
Lights the Atlantic flame
2000
Award
Named sports person of the century by the BBC
Sports Person of the Century
Named sports person of the century by the BBC
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.