But perhaps more important, he had courage and all the other intangibles that go into making a great fighter. While Cassius was undoubtedly the superior talent and would cap his amateur career with a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph also showed elite ability. Seven months later Ali regained the championship with a 15-round victory over Spinks. He said he was 'The Greatest' and he was. Muhammad stepped on that bush in the centre he didnt know it was there but the only rose that ever came back to life after that day was the one he trod on.. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Entry for Odessa Clay's grave, in Findagrave website (2019). AP. He was 74. And he turned his back on him. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Rahaman Ali retired from boxing in 1972 and remains close to his brother, who is battling Parkinsons Disease. Jun 04, 2016 at 8:31 am. . The challenger geared up for the bout with a litany of insults and rhymes, including the line, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." My Life on the Undercard, which is co-authored by H. Ron Brashear and the foreword written by Gene Kilroy - the longtime business manager of Muhammad Ali. They soon married and settled into their own house in Louisville, Kentucky. But he was killed before I got the chance.. He had nine children, most of whom avoided the spotlight of which Ali was so fond. Ali successfully defended his title six times, including a rematch with Liston. [11] The Clays' marriage was troubled. [3] She supported and inspired her son throughout his boxing career and was a ring-side regular at his bouts. Muhammad Ali was a member of the inaugural class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, and in 2005 he was awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedom. [9], Clay's parents separated when she was young,[10] and her mother worked as a maid, taking care of the household chores and the young children of a white family. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse to fight for Frazier's title on March 8, 1971, in New York. He is also an honorary board member of the Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum. Updates? "The moment he walked into the gym, he knew he would be great. . Then, on March 8, 1971, he challenged Joe Frazier, who had become heavyweight champion during Alis absence from the ring. Omissions? You know what he said to me? Ali was an anti-establishment showman who transcended borders and barriers, race and religion. Muhammad Ali's brother shares a few new details about The Greatest. There were reports of conflict between members of Ali's large family in the years leading up to his death. Ali's Mother Raised Him as a Baptist. He reminisced about Muhammad after his death in 2016, saying, Hes the greatest fighter on this planet. Evan Woodberry tweeted, "Battlefield universe has some sad . Shaakira was "totally heartbroken" when Ali Jr. left their family after receiving the money, especially because, according to her, she was the breadwinner in the family prior to Ali's death. Thats one hell of an achievement. Ali's only sibling, brother Rahman, was left out of the will, and it was reported this was due to Rahman having a fallout with Lonnie. LOUISVILLE, Ky. Five years ago today, boxing legend and Louisville native Muhammad Ali passed away. He is also an honorary board member of the Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum. Ali died of septic shock Friday night after he first arrived in the hospital Monday for a respiratory illness, a . When I proclaimed that I was the greatest of all time, I believed in myself, and I still do.". "My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, some poor, hungry people in the mud, for big powerful America, and shoot them for what?" While "his motor skills, his physical skills were deteriorating," the icon's "mind was always sharp," he said. Alternate titles: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Thomas Hauser graduated from law school in 1970 and began writing in 1977. I was 10 when we started boxing, he was 12 years old, Rahaman told voicetribune.com in 2013. Odessa Lee Clay (ne O'Grady; February 12, 1917 August 20, 1994) was the mother of three-time world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Rahman Ali, and the paternal And then one day he did it. The reaction was swift and harsh. Muhammad Ali's mother was his greatest supporter despite their separate spiritual paths. Ali prevailed in his first two comeback fights, against Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. Speaking at a press conference in Chicago on Sept. 25, 1970, deposed world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali "Cassius Clay" said he might fight Jerry Quarry in New York if Georgia Gov. In their last conversation, "he said to me with shaking, he said, 'Rahaman how do I look?' Ali won in a technical knockout in the 15th round. 2023 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved. He never got over Muhammads death and his health went downhill very quickly, said his son Tyrone to Sunday People . He is the younger brother of Muhammad Ali.[3]. Muhammad Ali was a boxer, philanthropist and social activist who is universally regarded as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. They bumped into each other outside the Ambassador Hotel in the capital Accra. [1][2] She married Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. in the 1930s and worked for some time as a household domestic to help support her young children. Jr, and his uncle, Muhammad Ali's younger brother, Rahman, have . The brothers adopted traditional Muslim names when they became part of the Black Muslims Ministry. "He was a wonderful angel," an emotional Ali said today, one day after his brother's death, as he reflected on their childhood, close bond and last conversation. Rahman has since co-authored two books providing an intimate account of Muhammads life through his memories. "My dad and mom were angels," he said. Rahaman was by his side all the way. Thankfully, the . On October 30, 1974, Ali challenged George Foreman, who had dethroned Frazier in 1973 to become heavyweight champion of the world. (Getty) Ali's father, Cassius Clay Sr., was a Methodist, but . His face lit up and he said: Paddy, my brother., I helped him up out of his chair so he could hug dad and it was such a loving hug. Muhammad started boxing in a Louisville, Kentucky amateur boxing league. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Ab Abd Allh al-usayn ibn Al ibn Ab lib (Arabic: ; 10 January 626 - 10 October 680) was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter Fatima, as well as a younger brother of Hasan ibn Ali. Clay was a decided underdog. His mother, Odessa Grady Clay, worked as a household domestic. She had been disabled by a stroke since February 1994. Al, in full Al ibn Ab lib, also called Al al-Murta, (born c. 600, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]died January 661, Kufa, Iraq), cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, and fourth of the "rightly guided" (rshidn) caliphs, as the first four successors of Muhammad are called. He is pictured here at a hospital in New York City on Sept. 21, 1984, following four days of tests. Ali died Friday at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications, a family spokesman confirmed to NBC News. Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali dives into Muhammads friendship with the fierce activist. The two joined a local boxing club in the early 1950s after Cassius famously had his bicycle stolen. Ali lost again, to Trevor Berbick, the following year. Dad also met James Brown but didnt have a clue who he was. New York Daily News. Absolutely not. I am not backing off because the guy you are fighting isnt backing off. Rahman himself fought in 18 bouts, winning 14. In recent years, Rahman was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, the same affliction that Muhammad had to deal with. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Both Muhammad and Rahaman entered the amateur world of boxing at an early age and competed professionally, although Muhammads success in professional boxing led him to the Olympics. He refused to serve. Alis religious views also evolved over time. When Muhammad Ali died last year, he left his widow Lonnie $12 million, and each of his nine children $6 million each. She supported and inspired her son throughout his boxing . We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. From Dr. Oz The Good Life. Thats my claim to fame, I was unofficial world champion at 16, said Tyrone. Two days later Clay shocked the boxing establishment again by announcing that he had accepted the teachings of the Nation of Islam. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. As Alis fame reached new heights, his bond with his brother never weakened. Muhammads career obviously became the priority and Rahaman only fought four times in the next two years, winning all four. His death was announced by the . [17] In the 1977 film The Greatest, Odessa Clay was portrayed by Dorothy Meyer, and in the 2001 film Ali she was portrayed by Candy Ann Brown.[18]. Rahaman Ali wishes his brother, Muhammad Ali, a happy birthday, March 18, 2007, in Louisville, Ky., at the Muhammad Ali Center before the Rumble Replay, a fundraiser showing the eight rounds of . Float Like a Butterfly: Muhammad Ali's Life in Pictures, Fighter and Thinker: the Two Sides of Muhammad Ali, 'Blood Brothers': The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali Celebrated at Compelling, Affectionate New Exhibition. Mohammad Ali was born on April 19, 1931, in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. So, if youre curious about what happened to Rahman since, weve got you covered. He didnt float quite like his brother, but he also liked to bounce around on his toes and work behind a strong jab. Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi has been charged with rape, French prosecutors said. As Malcolm struggled with the Nation for the champion's allegiance in 1964, Muhammad awarded Cassius Clay a new name: Muhammad Ali. Ali died in June, aged 74, and the money is yet to handed out. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell, a family spokesman, told NBC News. But in one of the most stunning upsets in sports history, Liston retired to his corner after six rounds, and Clay became the new champion. She's a sweet, fat, wonderful woman, who loves to cook, eat, make clothes, and be with family. Muhammad Alis first visit to Paddy Monaghans home in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Paddy Monaghan and Muhammad Ali were like brothers, Paddy's son Tyrone Monaghan has spoken about his dad's friendship with Ali, Ali letting Paddys son Tyrone, 16, beat him in their back garden, Paddy campaigning for Ali and congratulating him on an award, Muhammad Ali Junior fighting in the 1970s and being introduced to the crowd by his famous father. They never lynched me. While he is considered by many to be the greatest pugilist of all time, his life outside the ring has also warranted a lot of attention. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. By Tim Smith, Wayne Coffey and Bob Raissman. Although he remained free on bail, four years passed before his conviction was unanimously overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court on a narrow procedural ground. One day I will join my parents too and my brother in heaven. Muhammad Ali Jr., the son of the late boxing icon Muhammad Ali, told The New York Post in an hour-long interview that his father wouldn't have supported the Black Lives Matter movement, calling it "racist."; Ali, who died aged 74 in 2016 as a result of complications of Parkinson's disease, was a known activist who in 1964 joined the Nation of Islam. And my mother, I'll tell you what I've told people for a long time. Muhammad Ali With His Parents And Brother (Source: Getty Images) We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Muhammad Ali was married 4 times and had 3 baby mamas. Tyrone, a Kung Fu master, tearfully recalls the last time he and his father saw Parkinsons disease-stricken Ali, during his visit to Dublin in 2009. 01:53. If I wasnt a boxer, I wouldnt be famous, he said. Nick WheelerSIPA USA. But he said he did not regret boxing. James Brown started screaming and cursing at my dad for not having heard of him.. In 1996 Ali was chosen to light the Olympic flame at the start of the Games of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, Georgia. He would keep coming. Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest boxers in history, the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. In addition, he was known for his social message of black pride and black resistance to white domination and for refusinginductioninto theU.S. Armyduring theVietnam War. Rahaman picked the car up from the rear, and his father was able to get out from under the car. Rahman fondly remembered the time when they went to the boxing gym, saying, Muhammad was 12 years old, and I was 10. But this time, Ali didnt recognise my dad at first. Damage to his brain caused by blows to the head resulted in slurred speech, slowed movement, and other symptoms of Parkinson syndrome. Muhammad Ali, who has died aged 74, was acclaimed by many as the greatest world heavyweight boxing champion the world has ever seen. Thus, purists cringed when Clay predicted the round in which he intended to knock out an opponent, and they grimaced when he did so and bragged about each new conquest. But the young champion was to disappoint him. Morehead served in the 122nd United States Colored Troops during the war. Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions; he successfully defended this title 19 times. Having refused induction into the U.S. Army, he also stood for the proposition that unless you have a very good reason to kill, war is wrong. As Black activist Julian Bond later observed, When a figure as heroic and beloved as Muhammad Ali stood up and said, No, I wont go, it reverberated through the whole society.. You my opposer when I want equality. By 2004 Ali could write that Elijah Muhammad, who had taught him to see white Americans as blue-eyed devils , had accomplished much in terms of black racial pride but that Malcolm was the first to discover the truth, that colour doesnt make a man a devil. He told me I was as good at fighting as he was at the same age. Muhammad Ali, who rose above poverty and racism to become not only the heavyweight champion but a . It was clear for Clay that if he wanted to have any chance of having a career in professional boxing, he would have to hide his relationship with Malcolm X and the NOI. I'm the king of the world.". Netflixs Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali dives into Muhammads friendship with the fierce activist. Terms of the trust are a private matter., Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. One of her most notable works is her 2018 personal biography, At Home with Muhammad Ali, where she detailed the ups and downs of her father from the eyes of a daughter. Every Sunday, she dressed me up, took me and my brother to church, and taught us the way she thought was right. Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rahman_Ali&oldid=1137200286, This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 09:55. . Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali: Directed by Marcus A. Clarke. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. You know what he said to me? The Jinnah family (Urdu: ; Gujarati: , ) was a political family of Pakistan.Jinnahs have played an important role in the Pakistan Movement for creation of Pakistan, a separate country for Muslims of India. Ali and Frazier fought again in 1974, after Frazier had lost his crown. . His final record of 56 wins and 5 losses with 37 knockouts has been matched by others, but the quality of his opponents and his overwhelming success during his prime placed him among boxings immortals. Rahman fondly remembered the time when they . He said that after the birth of his three daughters, the best day of his life was sparring with Ali in his back garden at 16. After he was refused services at a soda fountain counter, he said, he threw his Olympic gold medal into a river. Ali defeated Norton in a rematch. In addition, he was criminally indicted and, on June 20, 1967, convicted of refusing induction into the U.S. armed forces and sentenced to five years in prison. [16], Odessa Clay appeared as herself in the film documentaries Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story (1996) and When We Were Kings (1996). Rahman Ali (Brother) Age (At the time of death) 81 Years Old: Height: 6 ft 3 inches (1.91 m) Weight: 107 kg (235.895 pounds) Hair Color: . Then, when she was sixteen years old, she met twenty-year-old Cassius, whom everyone referred to as "Cash". Ali Jnr adds his dad's brother Rahman, 73, hasn't had a cent from the . Muhammad Ali has one older brother, Rahaman Rudy Ali. 14 of 22. [5][6][7][8] Her maternal grandfather, Tom Morehead (1837-1913), was the son of a white man whose surname was Morehead and a slave woman named Dinah. . To the contrary, I always have and continue to be in awe and proud of the fact that I am Muhammad Alis brother.. So, if youre curious about what happened to Rahman since, weve got you covered. "I'm in no pain," he told The New York Times. He was 74. Rahman Ali (born Rudolph Valentino Clay;[1] July 18, 1944)[2] is an American former heavyweight boxer. As a professional boxer, Rahman won 14 bouts, lost 3, and had one draw. Corrections? Date of Death: October 11, 2005 (aged 59) Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius. He has problems.' His first book. Toward the end of his legal saga, Georgia agreed to issue Ali a boxing license, which allowed him to fight Jerry Quarry, whom he beat. "I could see it. Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X insisted, was in fact so ignorant of Islam that he didnt know the prayer ritual. He said Im going to be the greatest fighter that ever lived.'. Muhammad Ali would say to him, Fool, back off! and Rahman would respond by saying, No, I am going to get you ready, and you are going to win this fight. Part 2 - Smokin' Joe Frazier talks about how he felt about Muhammad Ali's antics, running his mouth, and if their relationship has changed over the years. He remembers the brashest of boxers being . His earlier adherence to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad (e.g., that white people are devils and there is no heaven or hell) were replaced by a spiritual embrace of all people and preparation for his own afterlife. [13][15] Her body was buried in a grave alongside her husband in Green Meadows Memorial Cemetery, in Louisville. No pain.' He had a cardiac attack, which led to his demise. Recoiling from the sport's tightly knit community of agents and promoters, Ali found guidance instead from the Nation of Islam, an American Muslim sect that advocated racial separation and rejected the pacifism of most civil rights activism. Before the rift: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali in March 1964, Muhammad Ali - 'I don't have white friends, they're associates', Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Read more 'The white man is the devil' what the Nation of Islam taught Ali, Bernie Sanders pays tribute to Muhammad Ali for 'courageous' opposition to Vietnam War, How the world paid tribute to Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali was a 'champion of Islam' who wanted to distinguish the religion from Isis, says Muslim leader, Muhammad Ali's one regret: his rift with Malcolm X. rejected Cassius Clay as his slave name. Ali had suffered for three decades from Parkinson's, a progressive neurological condition that slowly robbed him of both his verbal grace and his physical dexterity. The former British, Commonwealth and European champion fought 55 times and is revered for his 1963 knockdown of Muhammad Ali - then Cassius Clay. The moment he walked into the gym, he knew he would be great. A three-day music festival featuring James Brown and B.B. RAHAMAN Ali tossed around a handful of titles for his autobiography but there was only one he felt truly summed up his life: Thats Muhammad Alis brother. [4] Rahaman released his autobiography on January 17, 2015, with a book titled, That's Muhammad Ali's Brother! Its how hes been introduced since the day his older sibling became one of the greatest sportsmen in history and one of the most recognisable people on the planet. In recent years, Alis health began to suffer dramatically. In Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm's daughter, explained that after he left the organization, Ali contacted her family to reconnect. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. She was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, one of six children of John Lewis O'Grady and Birdie B. He wouldnt take it easy on him. It wasnt long before his ambition grew much larger than just dealing with a petty criminal. Larsa Pippen ruffled feathers when she went public with her new flame, the son of an NBA legend and a former teammate of her ex. Finally, Ali delivered a historic performance in the ring, employing a new strategy dubbed the "rope-a-dope," goading the favored Foreman into attacking him, then leaning back into the ropes in a defensive stance and waiting for Foreman to tire. His stand culminated with an April appearance at an Army recruiting station, where he refused to step forward when his name was called. The three-time heavyweight champion had been at HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn . The outpouring of goodwill that accompanied his appearance confirmed his status as one of the most-beloved athletes in the world. Mickey Rooney just wouldnt believe him. They went to heaven and now my brother is going to heaven to join my parents. Ali died on June 3, 2016, in Phoenix, Arizona . "Hes going to be with God, which is the best thing," Ali said. By Gina Martinez. Ali died at 9:10 p.m., spending the last hour of his life surrounded by his family. LOUISVILLE - Rahaman Ali had a ringside seat for nearly all of his brother's life. His father, Maulana Syed Murshid Ali, was an ace Islamic scholar from the region. But Ali Jnr said: It looks like Ive just been cut off. Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images. His record was 14 wins, three losses and one draw. Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston, shouting and gesturing shortly after dropping Liston with a short hard right to the jaw on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine. "Hell always be with me -- in my heart, in my bones, in my mind," Ali said. Muhammad Ali, the silver-tongued boxer and civil rights champion who famously proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and then spent a lifetime living up to the billing, is dead. He wouldnt take it easy on him. His mother was a homemaker. The bout (which Ali referred to as the Rumble in the Jungle) took place in the unlikely location of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. Inspired by Malcolm X, one of the group's leaders, he converted in 1963. June 3, 2021. He took it from George Foreman later that year in a fight in Zaire dubbed "The Rumble in the Jungle," a spectacularly hyped bout for which Ali moved to Africa for the summer, followed by crowds of chanting locals wherever he went. In 2019, Rahaman released his 2nd book titled My Brother, Muhammad Ali - The Definitive Biography. He wanted Ali to come with him. Former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali (C) acknowledges the crowd with his brother Rahaman Ali (L) and wife Lonnie Ali (R) during the dedication of the Muhammad Ali Center, Nov. 20, 2005 in Louisville, Ky. Boxing champion Muhammad Ali, his father Cassius Clay, Sr., and his brother Rahaman Ali, are shown at his training camp in Miami Beach, Fla., Feb. 9, 1971. Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Young Cassius had a younger brother named Rudy. Dec. 20, 2016. Even as his health gradually declined, Ali who switched to more mainstream branches of Islam threw himself into humanitarian causes, traveling to Lebanon in 1985 and Iraq in 1990 to seek the release of American hostages. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Leon Spinks, who shocked the boxing world with his 1978 defeat of Muhammad Ali to claim the heavyweight championship, died Friday in Henderson, Nev. There was a death scare in 2013, and last year he was rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive. Rahaman sparred with Muhammad all the time during those years and kept him going, Muhammads former business manager, Gene Kilroy, wrote in the foreword of Rahamans book. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942. "I miss him but I will see him again in heaven," Ali said. He says an equal slice of the inheritance was agreed at a meeting with his seven sisters and the wills executor, Alis fourth wife Lonnie, 59. It was a fight of historic proportions, billed as the Fight of the Century. Frazier won a unanimous 15-round decision. Rudolph had his own ideas of boxing stardom. As of 2017, a biopic based on the 77-year-olds life was reported to be in the making. Ali died at age 74 late Friday night, surrounded by his family in . And when he claimed that Muhammad was a hypocritical womaniser who had fathered children through affairs with his secretaries, Malcolm X was frozen out of the Nation of Islam. Alis position was especially controversial because it came at a time when most people in the United States still supported the war in Southeast Asia. As of 2017, a biopic based on the 77-year-olds life was reported to be in the making. Am I bitter by this happening? part big brother" to Ali and converted him to the Nation of Islam. Last modified on Wed 19 May 2021 11.25 EDT. In 1986, the couple adopted 5-year-old Asaad Amin and remained together until Muhammad's death. I felt that he had set me free! the boxer recalled in 2004. 2016 was a year when we lost many legends in the world of music, film, and sports. At small gyms early in her son's career and later at international arenas when he became world-famous, Clay traveled with her son and was a ring-side regular at his bouts. My black brother, who lived in Kentucky, became the most famous man in the world. His father was a highly conservative and religious man who adhered strictly to Islamic laws. The siblings were born in Louisville, Ky. Rahamans birth name was Rudolph Valentino Clay, and Muhammads birth name was Cassius Marcellous Clay. He would eventually reclaim the belt against George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle in Africa in 1974. "He was gifted with success, he was born with success," he said. Howard L. Bingham, a photographer who took an estimated one million pictures of Muhammad Ali over more than 50 years while becoming one of the boxer's closest friends, died on . [14], Clay's husband died in 1990. Muhammad Ali dies at 74 05:22. Muhammad and his second wife, Belinda Boyd, who later changed her named to Khalilah, had four kids together: Maryum was born in 1968, twins Jamillah and Rasheda were born in 1970, and . Ali said . It was only when his wife Lonnie said, Muhammad, Paddy Monaghan is here that he looked up. The 74-year-old was married 4 times and has nine kids. Ali's only biologicsal son, Muhammad Ali Jr., who was reportedly living in . Something went wrong, please try again later. Rudolph won 77 of 83 amateur fights before winning his first professional fight against Chip Johnson at the Convention Centre in Miami Beach on February 25, 1964. On March 6, 1964, he took the name Muhammad Ali, which was given to him by his spiritual mentor, Elijah Muhammad. In the ring, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest! 2 Laila Ali. Since then, he has authored some 50 books on subjects ranging from professional boxing to Beethoven. Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions; he successfully defended this title 19 times. He continued to be one of the most recognizable people in the world. He's going to be in my prayers. Advertisement. "My enemy is the white people, not Vietcongs or Chinese or Japanese," Ali told one white student who challenged his draft avoidance. Now they can go, 'He's human, like us. Ali then went on the attack, knocking out Foreman in the eighth round. Muhammad Ali Died of Septic Shock, Will Be Honored at Public Funeral: Spokesman. There was another fight on at the same venue later that night that got a little more attention Alis victory against Sonny Liston which saw him become heavyweight champion of the world.