Life & times
January 17, 1942: Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior in Louisville, Kentucky. September 5, 1960: Wins the Rome Olympics light heavyweight boxing gold. Later reveals he nearly pulled out of the Games because of a fear of flying. October 29: Makes professional debut winning in six rounds against 30-year-old police chief Tunny Hunsaker. June 18, 1963: Wins first fight with Henry Cooper in the fifth round despite the British boxer sending him crashing to the canvas. February 25, 1964: Wins the world heavyweight title, beating champion Sonny Liston. Before the fight Clay was fined £900 after ranting at Liston “Somebody’s going to die at the ringside tonight. Are you scared?” February 26: Confirms he has joined the Nation of Islam and has rejected his “slave name” Cassius Clay. He adopted the name Muhammad Ali on March 6. April 28, 1967: Refuses to fight in Vietnam. He is stripped of his world title, and his boxing license is suspended. He is later convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison, but appeals. January 27, 1970: Ali’s boxing license is restored but his conviction appeal continues. October 26: Ali returns to ring, beating Jerry Quarry in three rounds. March 8, 1971: The “Fight of the Century” against the then world champion Joe Frazier. Ali loses a unanimous points decision, the first professional defeat of his career. 1971: Ali’s first of four feisty appearances on Michael Parkinson’s TV show. The chat show host said an extra two million viewers tuned in. July 28: The US Supreme Court overturns Ali’s conviction. March 31, 1973: After winning six fights following the Frazier loss, Ali is beaten for the second time, by Ken Norton, who breaks his jaw. January 28, 1974: Beats Frazier unanimously on points in rematch. October 30: Regains his world title by beating George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali wins by a knockout in the eighth round. October 1, 1975: The “Thrilla in Manila”. Ali beats Frazier in their third and final contest – a fight of legendary brutality. December 11, 1981: Loses his final fight to Trevor Berbick in Nassau, aged 39. 1984: Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. July 19, 1996: Lights the flame to begin the Olympics Games in Atlanta. December 13, 1999: Named the BBC’s Sports Personaity of the Century. He polled more votes from viewers than George Best, Pele, Sir Donald Bradman, Jack Nicklaus and Jesse Owens – put together. July 28, 2012: Ali is among the dignitaries and other special guests to escort the Olympic flag during the London 2012 Olympic Games. June 3, 2016: Dies in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 74.