Top 10 Incredible Facts About Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali's larger-than-life persona extended beyond the boxing arena. Famous for his phrase "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” he secured 37 knockout wins and left an indelible mark on American society. Discover some intriguing, lesser-known details about the legend known as "The Greatest."

1. His name was inherited from his father, who was named in honor of a white abolitionist.

Originally named Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., Muhammad Ali inherited his name from his father, who was named after a white abolitionist. The elder Cassius Clay was a prominent 19th-century landowner and statesman who produced an anti-slavery newspaper, facing numerous threats for his progressive stance. He also served as a diplomat to Russia under President Abraham Lincoln, who later offered him a high-ranking military position, contingent on the emancipation of enslaved individuals in Confederate territories.

However, Clay's history is more nuanced than it seems. As Ta-Nehisi Coates highlighted in a 2016 The Atlantic article, Clay opposed slavery yet owned enslaved people on his family's property. A 1980 The New York Times article revealed that Clay owned more enslaved individuals in 1865 than he had decades prior. Ali felt that retaining the name Cassius Clay would perpetuate the visibility of his ancestors' slaveholding legacy. Consequently, in 1964, he adopted the name Muhammad Ali.

2. His case for avoiding the draft reached the Supreme Court.

During the early 1960s, Clay embraced Islam and became a member of the Nation of Islam. Guided by his faith, Ali declined to enlist in the Vietnam War after being drafted in April 1967. This led to his arrest, the revocation of his boxing license, and the loss of his heavyweight title. On June 20, 1967, he was found guilty of draft evasion and prohibited from boxing while his appeal was pending. His legal battle culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court, which unanimously reversed his conviction in 1971.

3. He was awarded a substitute gold medal.

During the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Ali secured the gold medal in the light heavyweight boxing category. However, as recounted in his 1975 autobiography, The Greatest: My Own Story (edited by Toni Morrison), he allegedly tossed his medal into the Ohio River out of anger over the persistent racism he faced in Louisville, Kentucky. Some historians contest this account, suggesting Ali simply misplaced the medal. Regardless, he received a replacement medal when he lit the Olympic flame at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

4. He became a real-life superhero.

In 1978, DC Comics released Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, a special edition comic where Ali triumphs over Superman and rescues the planet. In reality, Ali also saved a life. In 1981, a man threatened to jump from a ninth-floor building in L.A.'s Miracle Mile district. Ali’s friend Howard Bingham witnessed the incident and contacted the boxer, who lived nearby. Ali hurried to the scene and successfully convinced the man to step back from the edge.

5. Ali took the stage in a Broadway production.

In 1969, Ali starred in Oscar Brown, Jr.'s musical adaptation of Joseph Dolan Tuotti's play Big Time Buck White, portraying a radical Black intellectual addressing a political gathering. The show had a brief run of just five nights at New York's George Abbot Theatre. His Playbill bio noted that Ali "is currently appealing a five-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine for refusing military service on religious grounds. The role he plays in Big Time Buck White mirrors his real-life offstage persona."

6. He released a Grammy-nominated album focused on preventing tooth decay.

Ali’s cheerful personality made him a favorite among children, which likely led to his involvement in promoting dental health. In 1976, Ali released The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay, an album that cautioned against excessive sugar consumption. The project featured contributions from Frank Sinatra, Ossie Davis, and sportscaster Howard Cosell. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Recording for Children.

7. Ali once faced off against an NHL enforcer.

Ali officially retired in 1981 following a loss to Trevor Berbick. While many regard this as his final professional fight, it wasn’t the last time he stepped into a ring. In 1983, Ali agreed to an exhibition match against NHL enforcer Dave Semenko of the Edmonton Oilers. Semenko, known for his toughness and as a teammate of Wayne Gretzky, faced Ali in a three-round charity bout. Though it was a lighthearted event—Ali even kept his blue track suit on—the match ended in a draw.

8. Ali served as a referee for WrestleMania I.

In 1985, less than five years after retiring, Ali made a special appearance at the inaugural WrestleMania. Serving as a guest referee for the main event at Madison Square Garden, Ali ensured that Hulk Hogan, Mr. T., Paul Orndorff, and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper followed the rules. However, Ali wasn’t one to stay on the sidelines. Despite being advised to stay outside the ring to avoid injury, he climbed in anyway, prompting WWE (then WWF) staff to intervene. Ali later participated in a massive wrestling event in North Korea in 1995, drawing an audience of 150,000 to 190,000.

9. He became the first boxer to grace a Wheaties box.

In 1999, Ali achieved another milestone by becoming the first boxer to appear on a Wheaties box. The iconic General Mills cereal had traditionally featured athletes from major sports, but Ali broke the mold as the first boxer to receive this honor. General Mills honored him again in 2021, marking the cereal’s 100th anniversary.

10. He portrayed himself in his own biographical film.

While biopics about notable figures are common, it’s rare for the actual person to star in their own story. Ali’s magnetic presence convinced the producers of The Greatest (1977) that no actor could capture his essence. Ali played himself in the movie, which draws from his 1975 autobiography and traces his rise from the 1960 Olympics to his legendary 1974 bout with George Foreman, famously dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle.” The film also starred Robert Duvall as promoter Bill McDonald and James Earl Jones as Malcolm X. Despite Ali’s vibrant performance, a younger actor, Phillip “Chip” McAllister, was cast to portray his teenage years.