Jump To Muhammad Ali's Stats
The immortal words of the greatest boxer of all time resonates to this day. “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” American boxer Muhammad Ali’s famous boxing style was known around the world and responsible for his boxing successes. Over the course of his life, it was the beginning of a financial empire that has a net worth of $99,753,600 today.
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942 he became one of the most famous boxers to ever participate in the sport. During his retirement years he has become a philanthropist, social activist and international ambassador raising funds for Parkinson’s Syndrome.
As a professional boxer, he became the then youngest to every wear the Heavyweight Championship belt at age 22. He dropped former champ Sonny Liston in 1964 and again in a rematch in 1965. Shortly afterward Clay ran into a government whipsaw over the military draft. In the fallout, he lost his belt and was charged with a Federal Crime. After appealing to a higher court and some five years later, now Muhammad Ali was exonerated of all charges and he re-entered the ring.
Ali's most ferocious ring battles came against Smokin Joe Frazer. Ali and Joe went toe-to-toe three times around the world with Ali prevailing in the last two. Another nemesis that Ali faced was George Foreman. One of the most promoted boxing events in history was between Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971 at Madison Square Garden. After 15 rounds, Frazier served Ali his first loss as a professional. Frazier ultimately lost the championship to George Foreman. Ali then challenged Foreman in what was called “The Rumble in the Jungle.” Touted to be the underdog at the time, Ali astonished the boxing world beating Foreman and regained the heavyweight title in 1974, seven years after it had been stripped.
Since he was diagnosed in 1984 with Parkinson’s Syndrome, he retired and has devoted his time and energy to philanthropy and raising funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also an avid supporter of Special Olympics and Make a Wish Foundations
President George W. Bush bestowed on him in 2005 the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his legacy of philanthropy and activism. In his own words he describes his life’s work. "I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given," Ali said. "I believed in myself and I believe in the goodness of others.”
