Challenges Faced by Muhammad Ali: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Muhammad Ali. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Muhammad Ali, often called "The Greatest," was a globally recognized American professional boxer and social activist. Considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight boxer ever, he held multiple championship titles, including the Ring magazine heavyweight title and the WBA heavyweight title. Beyond boxing, Ali was a significant cultural icon. He was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1955: Murder of Emmett Till

In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till deeply affected the young Cassius Clay, and he later expressed that the story of Emmett Till shook him up more than anything else. This event played a role in shaping his social and racial awareness.

1962: Ali Registered for Conscription

In 1962, Muhammad Ali registered for conscription in the United States military and was initially listed as 1-A.

March 13, 1963: Fight of the Year

On March 13, 1963, Cassius Clay fought Doug Jones at Madison Square Garden, which was later named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring magazine. Clay won by unanimous decision, although the decision was controversial, and the fight proved to be one of the toughest during that period of his career.

1964: Ali Reclassified by U.S. Military

In 1964, Ali was reclassified as Class 1-Y by the U.S. Armed Forces due to failing the qualifying test, which was attributed to his dyslexia.

March 1966: Ali Refuses Armed Forces Induction

In March 1966, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces, leading to the systematic denial of his boxing license and passport.

March 29, 1966: Bout cancellation

Muhammad Ali and Ernie Terrell were scheduled to fight on March 29, 1966, but the bout was cancelled after Ali was reclassified by the Louisville draft board as 1-A and indicated that he would refuse to serve in the military. The Illinois Athletic Commission refused to sanction the fight, citing technicalities.

1966: Ali Declares Refusal to Serve in the Army

In 1966, upon being notified of his draft status, Muhammad Ali declared that he would refuse to serve in the army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War, antagonizing the white establishment.

1966: Ali Again Classified as 1-A

In early 1966, the army lowered its standards, and Ali was again classified as 1-A, making him eligible for the draft into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

February 6, 1967: Ali vs. Terrell Fight

On February 6, 1967, Muhammad Ali fought Ernie Terrell in Houston. During the lead up to the bout, Terrell repeatedly called Ali "Clay", which annoyed Ali. Ali won a unanimous 15-round decision in a fight that critics described as "one of the ugliest boxing fights".

March 1967: Ali Denied Boxing License and Passport

In March 1967, Ali was systematically denied a boxing license in every state and stripped of his passport as a result of his refusal to be inducted into the armed forces.

April 28, 1967: Ali Refuses Induction into U.S. Armed Forces

On April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali refused three times to step forward for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces in Houston, leading to his arrest and subsequent suspension from boxing.

June 4, 1967: "Cleveland Summit" Meeting

On June 4, 1967, a group of high-profile African-American athletes, including Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, assembled with Ali at the Negro Industrial Economic Union in Cleveland for the "Cleveland Summit" to question Ali about his convictions and ultimately support him.

June 20, 1967: Ali Found Guilty of Violating Selective Service Laws

On June 20, 1967, after a brief deliberation, the jury found Muhammad Ali guilty of violating the Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted.

1967: Refusal to be drafted and stripped of titles

In 1967, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the military due to his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War. As a result, he was found guilty of draft evasion and stripped of his boxing titles, leading to a temporary halt in his boxing career.

1969: Ali Films Fantasy Fight Against Rocky Marciano

In 1969, Muhammad Ali, while banned from sanctioned bouts, settled a lawsuit by appearing in a privately staged fantasy fight against Rocky Marciano, which was filmed for approximately 75 one-minute rounds.

October 1970: End of Ali's Boxing Hiatus

Muhammad Ali did not fight from March 1967 to October 1970 due to being denied a boxing license and passport because he refused to be inducted into the armed forces. His conviction was overturned in 1971.

1970: Fantasy Fight Shown in Movie Theaters

In 1970, edited versions of the filmed sparring between Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano were shown in movie theaters, with different simulated outcomes for the U.S. and European versions.

March 8, 1971: Ali vs. Frazier "Fight of the Century"

On March 8, 1971, Muhammad Ali's first fight against Joe Frazier, held at Madison Square Garden while his Supreme Court appeal was pending, was nicknamed the "Fight of the Century" due to the excitement surrounding the undefeated fighters.

June 28, 1971: Supreme Court Overturns Ali's Conviction

On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Muhammad Ali's conviction in Clay v. United States, citing that the appeal board gave no reason for denying his conscientious objector exemption.

1971: Ali's Conviction Overturned

In 1971, Muhammad Ali's conviction for refusing to be inducted into the armed forces was overturned.

1971: U.S. Supreme Court Reviews Ali's Case

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed Ali's case after a Court of Appeals upheld his conviction.

October 1, 1975: Thrilla in Manila

On October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier in Manila in a bout known as the "Thrilla in Manila". Despite early aggression from Ali, Frazier relentlessly attacked, leading to a grueling fight. Ali used the "rope-a-dope" strategy, absorbing punishment but also landing effective counterpunches. By the later rounds, Frazier's vision was impaired, and Ali dominated until Frazier's trainer stopped the fight after the 14th round.

April 30, 1976: Ali vs. Jimmy Young

On April 30, 1976, Muhammad Ali fought Jimmy Young and won by a controversial unanimous decision. Ali admitted he was getting old and preserving his energy.

1976: African Boycott of the 1976 Olympics

In 1980, Muhammad Ali was unable to explain why the African countries should join the US boycott of the Moscow Olympics when the US had failed to support the African boycott of the 1976 Olympics (in protest of Apartheid in South Africa).

1977: Birth of Osmon Williams

In 1977, Osmon Williams was born. His mother, Temica Williams, later claimed that Muhammad Ali was his father and that she had been in a sexual relationship with Ali since she was 12 years old. Temica Williams launched a lawsuit against Ali in 1981.

February 1978: Ali Loses to Spinks

In February 1978, Muhammad Ali faced Leon Spinks at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas and lost the title by split decision despite Spinks' relative inexperience.

1978: Financial Status

In 1978, Muhammad Ali revealed that he was "broke" and news outlets reported his net worth to be an estimated $3.5 million (inflation-adjusted $17 million). The press attributed his decline in wealth to several factors.

July 31, 1980: Ali Cleared to Fight

On July 31, 1980, the Nevada Athletic Commission accepted the Mayo Clinic's opinion that Muhammad Ali was fit to fight, paving the way for his return to the ring after he struggled with vocal stutters and trembling hands.

October 2, 1980: Ali vs. Holmes

On October 2, 1980, Muhammad Ali fought Larry Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Holmes dominated Ali, and after the tenth round, the fight was stopped, marking Ali's only loss by stoppage.

1980: Diplomatic Mission to Africa

In early 1980, Muhammad Ali was recruited by President Jimmy Carter for a diplomatic mission to Africa to persuade African governments to join the US-led boycott of the Moscow Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Ali convinced the government of Kenya to boycott the Soviet Olympics.

December 11, 1981: Ali vs. Berbick

On December 11, 1981, Muhammad Ali fought Trevor Berbick in Nassau, Bahamas, losing a ten-round decision. This was Ali's last fight.

1981: Sexual Assault Lawsuit

In 1981, Temica Williams launched a $3 million lawsuit against Ali for sexual assault, claiming she had a relationship with him starting at age 12 and that her son Osmon (born in 1977) was fathered by Ali when she was 17. She alleged that Ali initially supported her and her son financially but stopped after four years.

1984: Diagnosis of Parkinson's Syndrome

In 1984, Muhammad Ali publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome. Although some reports attributed it to boxing-related injuries, this was disputed by Ali and his specialist physicians.

1985: Visit to Israel

In 1985, Muhammad Ali visited Israel to request the release of Muslim prisoners at Atlit detainee camp, which Israel declined.

1986: Dismissal of Lawsuit

In 1986, the $3 million lawsuit launched by Temica Williams against Muhammad Ali in 1981 for sexual assault was thrown out as her allegations were deemed to be barred by the statute of limitations.

1988: Paternity Claim and Relationship with Children

In 1988, Kiiursti Mensah-Ali claimed to be Muhammad Ali's daughter, supported by a paternity test, alleging a long relationship between Ali and her mother. She stated Ali provided support until his marriage to Lonnie ended contact. After his death, she requested to mourn at his funeral.

1990: Negotiating release of American hostages in Iraq

In 1990, Muhammad Ali traveled to Iraq before the Gulf War and met with president Saddam Hussein, successfully negotiating the release of American hostages. He promised to bring America an "honest account" of Iraq in exchange for the hostages' release. He subsequently received criticism for this action.

2001: Promotion of biopic and contribution to benefit concert

In 2001, despite his Parkinson's syndrome, Muhammad Ali promoted his own biopic, "Ali", and contributed to the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert.

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2010: Osmon Williams' Claim

In 2010, Osmon Williams claimed to be Ali's son. His mother had launched a lawsuit in 1981 against Ali, which was later dismissed. Ali admitted to the affair with Williams, but denied Osmon was his son. This claim was deemed of questionable veracity by Ali's biographer.

July 27, 2012: Titular bearer of the Olympic flag

On July 27, 2012, Muhammad Ali was a titular bearer of the Olympic flag during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Due to his Parkinson's syndrome, he was helped to his feet by his wife.

February 2013: Rumors of declining health

In February 2013, rumors circulated about Muhammad Ali's declining health, with his brother suggesting he could die soon. However, his daughter May May Ali refuted these rumors, stating she had spoken to him and he was fine.

August 2013: Opening of The Trials of Muhammad Ali in Manhattan

In August 2013, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, a documentary focusing on Ali's refusal of the draft during the Vietnam War, opened in Manhattan.

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December 20, 2014: Hospitalization for pneumonia

On December 20, 2014, Muhammad Ali was hospitalized for a mild case of pneumonia.

January 15, 2015: Hospitalization for urinary tract infection

On January 15, 2015, Muhammad Ali was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection after being found unresponsive at a guest house in Scottsdale, Arizona.

June 2, 2016: Hospitalization for respiratory illness

On June 2, 2016, Muhammad Ali was hospitalized in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a respiratory illness. His condition worsened, leading to his death the following day.