Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Muhammad Ali, a life in pictures
1960: Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali) stands on the winners' podium to receive his gold medal for light heavyweight boxing at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He is flanked by Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland, silver; and Giulio Saraudi of Italy and Anthony Madigan of Australia, joint bronze.
(
Central Press/Getty Images
)
1963: Supremely confident American boxer Cassius Clay holds up five fingers in a prediction of how many rounds it will take him to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper.
(
Kent Gavin/Getty Images
)
1963: American boxer Cassius Clay weighs in before his world heavyweight title fight against British boxer Henry Cooper.
(
S. Higgins/Getty Images
)
1964: Heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
(
Harry Benson/Getty Images
)
1966: Muhammad Ali in trains for a match against Brian London in August 1966.
(
R. McPhedran/Getty Images
)
1966: World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali meets eight-month-old Maria Morin during a training session at the Territorial Army Gymnasium at White City, London. Ali was training for his fight against British champion Henry Cooper at Arsenal's Highbury Stadium, London on May 2.
(
R. McPhedran/Getty Images
)
1970: Muhammad Ali weighs in before his heavyweight bout with Jerry Quarry on Oct. 20, 1970, in Atlanta.
(
/AP
)
1971: Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) on the mat during his bout with Joe Fazier for the heavyweight boxing world championship title in New York's Madison Square Garden. At the end of the fight, Frazier kept his title.
(
AFP/AFP/Getty Images
)
October 19, 1974: US boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali 11 days before the "Rumble in the Jungle" in Kinshasa. On October 30, 1974 Ali would knock out George Foreman in a fight watched by 60 000 people in the stadium and millions elsewhere.
(
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
)
1974: World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali addresses an audience at the New Victoria Theatre in London.
(
Tim Graham/Evening Standard/Getty Images
)
1974: World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali addresses a Nation of Islam meeting at the New Victoria Theatre in London.
(
Tim Graham/Evening Standard/Getty Images
)
1974: American heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali with British champion John Conteh.
(
Evening Standard/Getty Images
)
1975: Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, fights Hungarian-born British boxer Joe Bugner, in their title match at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Ali won the fight, keeping his World Heavyweight title.
(
Central Press/Getty Images
)
1977: American heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali is greeted by two police officers in Hyde Park, London, during the boxer's early morning run.
(
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
)
1978: Heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali with his daughters Laila (9 months) and Hanna (2 years, 5 months) at Grosvenor House.
(
Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Getty Images
)
1992: Muhammad Ali sits ringside during the Terry Norris vs. Carl Daniels fight in San Diego, California.
(
Holly Stein/Getty Images
)
2005: Muhammad Ali attends the Otto-Hahn-Peace-Medal Award Presentation in Berlin, Germany. Ali is receiving the award for his involvement in the American peace movement.
(
Carsten Koall/Getty Images
)
2009: As part of his UK charity tour, Muhammad Ali arrives at Ricky Hatton's gym in Manchester, England. He was greeted with chants of "Ali" by the crowd. Although frail, Ali managed to wave to the crowd.
(
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
)
2009: Muhammad Ali sits on the stage ahead of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States in Washington, DC.
(
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
)
2011: Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali attended a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC along with other prominent American Muslims and clergy appealed to Iran's Supreme Leader for the release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two U.S. hikers detained in Iran since July 31, 2009.
(
Win McNamee/Getty Images
)
2011: Muhammad Ali attends a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to appeal to Iran's Supreme Leader for the release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, two U.S. hikers detained in Iran since 2009.
(
Win McNamee/Getty Images
)
2012: Olympic flag bearer Muhammad Ali looks on during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.
(
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
)
2012: Muhammad Ali attends the Sports For Peace Fundraising Ball at The V&A in London, England.
(
Ian Gavan/Getty Images
)
2012: Muhammad Ali attends the U.S. Olympic Committee Benefit Gala at USA House at the Royal College of Art in London, England.
(
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
)
2013: Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie Ali ride a golf cart onto the field to represent the Louisville Cardinals for the coin toss against the Florida Gators prior to the start of the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
)
Muhammad Ali with his granddaughter Sydney, daughter of Laila Ali, in an undated photo.
(
Photo courtesy of Laila Ali via Facebook
)
"It was this quality of Ali’s that I have always admired the most: his unique ability to summon extraordinary strength and courage in the face of adversity, to navigate the storm and never lose his way."
That's Barack Obama reflecting on what Muhammad Ali has meant to him in a 2010 essay for USA Today. The President has a copy of the iconic 1964 photo of a triumphant Ali standing after his first-round knockout of Sonny Liston hanging on his wall.
Obama also writes of his admiration for the boxer's gentleness and commitment to peace:
Asked why he is so universally beloved, he holds up a shaking hand, fingers spread wide, and says, “It’s because of this. I’m more human now. It’s the God in people that connects them to me.”
This is the Muhammad Ali who inspires us today — the man who believes real success comes when we rise after we fall; who has shown us that through undying faith and steadfast love, each of us can make this world a better place. He is, and always will be, the champ.
He truly floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee — and these pictures of Ali through the years give a glimpse of those eras.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
