Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali

Birth date

Jan 17, 1942

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.is born in Louisville.

Cassius Clay becomes a boxer

May 1, 1954

After Clay finds his bike's been stolen he goes to the police officer who is running a gym and is furious. Officer Joe Martin advises 12 year old Clay to channel his anger through boxing.

first TV fight

May 14, 1954

First fight on tv on the show "Tommorrow's Champions"

Gold medal

May 14, 1960

Wins gold medal at 1960 Olympic Games in Rome

First pro fight

Oct 29, 1960

Muhammad Ali returns from the Olympics and begins his professional career in Louisvill witha six round win over Tunney Hunsaker

Heavyweight Championship

Feb 25, 1964

Cassius Clay knocks out Sonny Liston in Miami Beach and wins the title of heavyweight champion of the world

name change

May 19, 1964

Cassius Clay formally changes his name to Muhammad Ali converting to the nation of islam

Federal Case

Apr 28, 1967

Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the United States Army and is stripped of his title as heavyweight champion of the world.He is also banned from the ring.

Jerry Quarry

Oct 26, 1970

has his license renewed and fights for the first time since his banishment, defeating Jerry Quarry.

The Fight

Mar 8, 1971

Loses "The Fight of the Century" for championship against Joe Frazier in New York, Madison Square Garden

Rematch

Jan 28, 1974

Beats Joe Frazier in a rematch

Rumble in the Jungle

Oct 30, 1974

in the "rumble in the jungle" beats George Foreman to win heavyweight championship in Kinshasha, Zaire.

Thrilla in Manilla

Oct 1, 1975

Beats Frazier another time in "the thrilla in manilla"

loses title leon spinks

Feb 15, 1978

loses heavyweight title in a fight against Leon Spinks then wins it again for a record third time in a rematch.

rewins title Leon Spinks

Sep 15, 1978

Beats Leon Spinks in a rematch, winning the heavyweight title for a record third time.

Retirement

Jun 27, 1979

Muhammad Ali Announces his retirement

out of retirement

Oct 19, 1980

Muhammad Ali comes out of retirement to fight Larry Holmes and loses due to his weak state, giving up the championship title

parkinsons syndrome

May 14, 1984

is diagnosed as suffering from parkinson's syndrome. A disease that includes shaking, head trauma, and difficulty walking and talking. Disease is Common among boxers

hostages

Nov 19, 1990

Muhammad Ali travels to Baghdad, Iraq on a peace mission and met personally with Saddam Hussein and convinced him to free 15 American hostages.

Olympic Flame

Jul 19, 1996

Muhammad Ali lights the flame for the openining ceremony of the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Presidential Citezens Medal

Jan 8, 2005

George Bush awards Muhammad Ali the Presidential Citezens Medal

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Nov 9, 2005

George W. Bush awards Muhammad Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom