Muhammad Ali

Heavyweight boxing champion and cultural figure known as The Greatest.

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay Jr., worked in twentieth-century boxing and public life as an Olympic champion, professional heavyweight, conscientious objector, religious convert, activist, entertainer, and later humanitarian figure. His public contribution includes elite heavyweight movement and tactics, psychological contest, self-promotion, refusal of military induction during the Vietnam War, and use of sporting celebrity in racial and political debate.