Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "the Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970. He was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.
Cassius Clay and Archie Moore fought a boxing match on November 15, 1962, in Los Angeles. The fight is notable for being Clay's first professional fight in the modern heavyweight division, and featured two iconic fighters at different ends of their careers.
In his professional debut, 1960 Olympic light heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay fought Tunney Hunsaker in a six-round match on October 29, 1960. Clay won the bout through a unanimous decision on points.
Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry fought two boxing matches with each other. The first bout took place on October 26, 1970; and the second on June 27, 1972. Ali won both fights through technical knockouts. The first match was the Ali's first fight since his suspension from boxing in 1967, and the second was fought for the NABF title.
Muhammad Ali vs. Ernie Terrell was a professional boxing match contested on February 6, 1967, for the WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight championships. The fight went 15 rounds, with Ali winning through a unanimous decision.
Cassius Clay vs. Doug Jones was a professional boxing match contested on March 13, 1963.
Cassius Clay fought a ten-round boxing match with Charlie Powell in Pittsburgh on January 24, 1963. Clay won the bout by knocking out Powell in the third round.
Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Banks was a professional boxing match contested on February 10, 1962.
Cassius Clay fought Duke Sabedong in a ten-round boxing match in Las Vegas on June 26, 1961. The fight went the full distance with Clay winning comfortably on points, despite Sabedong's usage of roughhouse tactics.
Cassius Clay fought Argentine Alex Miteff in a ten-round boxing match in Louisville on October 7, 1961. Clay won the fight through a technical knockout when the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round. Miteff and Clay would feature in the 1962 film Requiem for a Heavyweight.
The Cassius Clay vs. Alonzo Johnson ten-round boxing match between Cassius Clay and Alonzo Johnson was held in Louisville, Kentucky on July 22, 1961. Cassius Clay won the bout on points with a unanimous decision.
Cassius Clay vs. Alejandro Lavorante was a heavyweight professional boxing match.
Cassius Clay fought a ten-round boxing match with George Logan in Los Angeles on April 23, 1962. Clay won the fight through a technical knockout after the referee stopped the fight in the fourth round. This was Clay's 13th professional victory and before the fight Jack Dempsey predicted he would win the title. Logan sustained a serious eye injury during the bout that eventually led to its stoppage. Logan later claimed his cornermen told him to use low blows against Clay but he refused. Logan was later a truant officer and a police officer in his native state of Idaho.
Cassius Clay fought Billy Daniels in a ten-round boxing match at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City on May 19, 1962. Clay won the fight through a technical knockout when the referee stopped the fight in the seventh round. The fight featured a series of clinches and calls of "break" from the referee. Clay was ahead on points when the referee stopped the fight after a cut opened above Daniels' left eyebrow. At the time of the stoppage, referee Mark Conn had Clay ahead 5–1, and judges Artie Aidala and Leo Birnbaum had him in front 4–2. Both Daniels and Clay had been undefeated up till this bout.
Cassius Clay fought an eight-round boxing match with LaMar Clark in Louisville on April 19, 1961. Clark had entered the ring with a formidable reputation of knocking out 45 of his previous opponents. However, Clay broke Clark's nose in the fight and won the bout through a knockout in the second round following which Clark retired from boxing.
Cassius Clay fought a ten-round boxing match with Willi Besmanoff in Louisville on November 29, 1961. Clay won the bout through a technical knockout in the seventh round after the referee stopped the fight with Besmanoff sprawled on his back on the canvas.
Cassius Clay fought an eight-round boxing match with Texan Donnie Fleeman in Miami on February 21, 1961. Prior to this fight, Fleeman had a record of 51 fights with 45 wins including 20 knockouts. Clay won the bout through a technical knockout after the referee stopped the fight in the seventh round. This was the first time Clay had gone over six rounds in a boxing match. It was also the first time Fleeman had ever been knocked down in a boxing match. Fleeman retired from boxing after this fight.
Cassius Clay fought a ten-round boxing match with Don Warner in Miami on February 28, 1962. Clay won the fight through a technical knockout after the referee stopped the fight in the fourth round. Warner would later serve as a sparring partner for Joe Frazier.
Cassius Clay fought a boxing match with Herb Siler in Miami on December 27, 1960. Clay won the bout through a technical knockout after the referee stopped the fight in the fourth round. The fight had taken place soon after Clay had joined the 5th Street Gym.
Muhammad Ali was a boxer who mastered the rope-a-dope fighting technique. He is widely regarded by many boxing commentators and historians as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Boxing magazine The Ring named him number one in a 1998 ranking of greatest heavyweights from all eras. In 1999, The Associated Press voted Ali the number one heavyweight of the 20th century.
