Muhammad Ali (born
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on
January 17,
1942) is a retired
American boxer and former three-time
World Heavyweight Champion and winner of an
Olympic Light-heavyweight gold medal. In 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by
Sports Illustrated and the
BBC.
Ali was born in
Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., who was named for the 19th century
abolitionist and politician
Cassius Clay. Ali changed his name after joining the
Nation of Islam in 1964 and subsequently converted to
Islam in 1975.