Khalilah Ali

Last updated
Khalilah Camacho Ali
Born
Belinda Boyd

(1950-03-17) March 17, 1950 (age 74)
Occupation(s) Humanitarian, author, actor
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1967;div. 1976)​
Rene Gonzalez Camacho
​
​
(m. 1989;died 1993)​
Children4

Khalilah Camacho Ali (born Belinda Boyd; March 17, 1950) is an American actress, also known for being the former wife of boxer Muhammad Ali. [1]

Contents

Personal life

Belinda Boyd was born on March 17, 1950. She was raised in Chicago where she attended Islamic schools. [2] Her parents were members of the Nation of Islam. [3] Her father, Brother Raymond, was the first lieutenant of the FOI for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and her mother, Sister Inez (Aminah) worked in the temple as a secure person and the companion of the First Lady of the nation, Sister Clara Muhammad.This led her to live a different life that most as she was brought up close to the Royal Family because her parents here incredibly busy. [4] While most organizations like the Nation of Islam women are often silenced, Belinda Boyd is included in the long list of prominent women in the NOI that worked to negotiate with patriarchy by having to analyze their husbands dispositions to be able to guide them into success. [5] As a strict member of the NOI, Belinda Boyd lived a strict life under Elijah Muhammad's moral teachings and “therefore remained a virgin till marriage, never been to a movie, never even out a line in the dark without her parents, never traveled by bus, [and] never smoked” before she married her first husband Muhammad Ali on August 18, 1967, at the age of 17. [4] [1] She claims the marriage was arranged by her Muslim parents. [6] In an interview with NBC 6, Boyd recounted meeting Ali when she was 10 years old at her hometown mosque. "He said, 'Listen here little girl. This is my name. Imma be famous. You need to keep that 'cause it's gone be worth a lot of money,'" Boyd said, mimicking Ali. “You'll never be famous with that name. And, I walked away," Boyd said. [7]

After their marriage, she, like Ali, changed her name to Khalilah Ali, though she was still called Belinda by old friends and family. When Ali's evasion of the draft cost him his boxing title in 1967 (a decision later overturned by the Supreme Court), Khalilah supported him emotionally and financially. [8] They had a tumultuous marriage with Ali's infidelities and she accused him of being an absentee father. [2] In 1974, Ali began an affair with his future wife Veronica Porche which resulted in a confrontation between Khalilah and Veronica in Manila. [6] In January 1977, Khalilah divorced Ali. [9] After their bitter divorce she said, "I left him because he wasn't what he said he was, because of his lack of morals and disrespect to the family. I don't think he deserves the name Muhammad Ali, and I'm going to call him Cassius Clay from now on." [2]

The couple had four children, Maryum "May May" (b. 1968), twins Jamillah and Rasheda (b. 1970), and Muhammad Ali Jr. (b. 1972). During their marriage, Ali had multiple children from extramarital affairs including Miya in 1972, and Khaliah in 1974,. [10] Rasheda married Robert Walsh and has two sons, Biaggio Ali Walsh (b. 1998) and Nico Ali Walsh (b. 2000). [11]

Khalilah remarried in the 1980s and divorced twice more. [12]

Career

She studied karate, and by 1977, earned a third degree black belt. [9] Khalilah studied under Jim Kelly and Steve Saunders. [9] She eventually earned her ninth degree black belt. [13]

She appeared on the cover of Ebony Magazine seven times. [13] She appeared in the Jane Fonda film The China Syndrome . [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali</span> American boxer and activist (1942–2016)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny Liston</span> American boxer (c. 1930–1970)

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, nicknamed "the Big Bear", was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. A dominant contender of his era, he became the world heavyweight champion in 1962 after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout the following year in defense of the title; in the latter fight he also became the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Liston was particularly known for his immense strength, formidable jab, long reach, toughness, and is widely regarded as the most intimidating man in the history of the sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floyd Patterson</span> American boxer (1935–2006)

Floyd Patterson was an American professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1972, and twice reigned as the world heavyweight champion between 1956 and 1962. At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in history to win the title, and was also the first heavyweight to regain the title after losing it. As an amateur, he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He is recognised as one of the best heavyweights of all time.

<i>Ali</i> (film) 2001 film by Michael Mann

Ali is a 2001 American biographical sports drama film co-written, produced and directed by Michael Mann. The film focuses on ten years in the life of the boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, from 1964 to 1974, featuring his capture of the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, and banishment from boxing, his return to fight Joe Frazier in 1971, and, finally, his reclaiming the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight of 1974. It also touches on the great social and political upheaval in the United States following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston</span> Boxing competition

The two fights between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston for boxing's World Heavyweight Championship were among the most controversial fights in the sport's history. Sports Illustrated magazine named their first meeting, the Liston–Clay fight, as the fourth greatest sports moment of the twentieth century.

Tunney Morgan Hunsaker was an American professional boxer who is best remembered as the first professional opponent of boxing great Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali. Outside of his boxing career, Hunsaker served many years as the Police Chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia.

Zayd ibn Ḥāritha al-Kalbī, was an early Muslim, Sahabi and the adopted son of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He is commonly regarded as the fourth person to have accepted Islam, after Muhammad's wife Khadija, Muhammad's cousin Ali, and Muhammad's close companion Abu Bakr. Zayd was a slave that Hakim ibn Hizam, Khadija's nephew, bought for her at a market in Ukaz. Zayd then became her and Muhammad’s adopted son. This father-son status was later annulled after Muhammad married Zayd’s ex-wife, Zaynab bint Jahsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassius Marcellus Clay (politician)</span> American politician

Major General Cassius Marcellus Clay was an American planter, politician, military officer and abolitionist who served as the United States ambassador to Russia from 1863 to 1869. Born in Kentucky to a wealthy planter family, Clay entered politics during the 1830s and grew to support the abolitionist cause in the U.S., drawing ire from fellow Southerners. A founding member of the Republican Party in Kentucky, he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as the U.S. minister to Russia. Clay is credited with influencing Russian support for the Union during the American Civil War.

<i>The Greatest</i> (1977 film) 1977 film about Muhammad Ali

The Greatest is a 1977 biographical sports film about the life of boxer Muhammad Ali, in which Ali plays himself. It was directed by Tom Gries. The film follows Ali's life from the 1960 Summer Olympics to his regaining the heavyweight crown from George Foreman in their famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in 1974. The film consists largely of archival footage of Ali's boxing matches used in the screenplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odessa Grady Clay</span> Muhammad Alis mother (1917–1994)

Odessa Lee Clay was the mother of three-time world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Rahaman Ali, and the paternal grandmother of Laila Ali. She married Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. in the 1930s and worked for some time as a household domestic to help support her young children. She supported and inspired her son throughout his boxing career and was a ring-side regular at his bouts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad Ali in media and popular culture</span> Overview of the American boxer in media and popular culture

This article covers the boxer Muhammad Ali's appearances in media and popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khadija bint Khuwaylid</span> Muhammads first wife (c. 554–619)

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was the first wife and the first follower of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Khadija was the daughter of Khuwaylid ibn Asad, a noble of the Quraysh tribe in Makkah and a successful merchant.

<i>Facing Ali</i> 2009 American film

Facing Ali is a 2009 documentary directed by Pete McCormack about Muhammad Ali as told from the perspectives of ten opponents he faced during his career: George Chuvalo, Sir Henry Cooper, George Foreman, "Smokin'" Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks and Ernie Terrell.

Ali: An American Hero is an American television film which aired on August 31, 2000, on Fox. It chronicles portions of the career of heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali, who is portrayed by David Ramsey.

<i>I Am Ali</i> 2014 film

I Am Ali is a 2014 documentary directed by Clare Lewins. It covers the life of professional boxer Muhammad Ali. The film tells his story using personal audio recordings Ali made himself during the 1970s. Additionally, interviews of friends, family members, and people associated with professional boxing, combined with archival footage of Ali, are used throughout the movie. Notable appearances in the film include George Foreman, Jim Brown, and Mike Tyson.

Cassius Clay vs. Doug Jones was a professional boxing match contested on March 13, 1963. Clay won on points in what would prove to be one of the closest fights of his early professional career. The fight was named 1963's Fight of the Year by The Ring.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassius Clay vs. Donnie Fleeman</span> Boxing competition

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religious views of Muhammad Ali</span>

Muhammad Ali was initially raised as a Baptist before his high-profile conversion to Islam. In the early 1960s, he began attending Nation of Islam Meetings. There, he met Malcolm X, who encouraged his involvement and became a highly influential mentor to Ali. Ali, who was named Cassius Clay after his father, first changed his name briefly to Cassius X and then finally to Muhammad Ali in 1964.

Nico Ali Walsh is an American professional boxer. The grandson of Muhammad Ali, Walsh came into the ring for his pro debut in August 2021 wearing his grandfather's personal white Everlast shorts, which were passed down to him in 2016 with the death of his grandfather.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bitter About Ali ('i Call Him Cassius Clay'), Ex-Wife Khalilah Forges a Life of Her she now lives in Liverpool Own". people.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bitter About Ali ('i Call Him Cassius Clay'), Ex-Wife Khalilah Forges a Life of Her Own". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  3. ↑ "Remembering Muhammad Ali as a husband and father". New York Post. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  4. 1 2 Taylor, Ula Yvette (2017-10-09). The Promise of Patriarchy. University of North Carolina Press. doi:10.5149/northcarolina/9781469633930.001.0001. ISBN   978-1-4696-3393-0.
  5. ↑ Nasser, Aisha (2021). "Reading the Women of the Nation of Islam: A Feminist Review." Resources for Gender and Women's Studies". Women's Studies International Forum. 41 (1). doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2006.04.004. ISSN   0277-5395. ProQuest   2565690329.
  6. 1 2 "After Their Chilla in Manila, Belinda Ali Launches a New Career—Alone". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  7. ↑ "The Secrets of Ali: Former Wife of Boxing Champ Tells All". nbcmiami.com.
  8. ↑ "Muhammed Ali's Ex-Wife, Khalilah Camacho Ali, Opens Up About Their Marriage". Huffington Post. 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  9. 1 2 3 Kisner, Ron (September 1977). "Ebony". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company: 82. ISSN   0012-9011.
  10. ↑ Foster, Peter; Allen, Nick (2016-06-04). "Muhammad Ali's tangled love life leaves troubled legacy". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  11. ↑ "Chatting with Biaggio Ali-Walsh, Cal recruit and grandson of Muhammad Ali". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  12. ↑ Francisco Alvarado. "Khalilah Camacho-Ali Stood by Muhammad Ali Through Exile and Triumph". New Times Broward-Palm Beach.
  13. 1 2 Francisco Alvarado. "Khalilah Camacho-Ali was in the Champ's corner through some of boxing's greatest moments". Miami New Times.
  14. ↑ "Bitter About Ali ('i Call Him Cassius Clay'), Ex-Wife Khalilah Forges a Life of Her Own".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.