Muhammad Ali's Greatest Hits
The Greatest turns 70.
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The Greatest in the Game - Former heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali is known as much for his sharp jab as his sharp tongue. On Jan. 17, 2012, The Greatest, as he will forever be known, celebrates his 70th birthday. Take a look back at his biggest accomplishments so far.—Britt Middleton
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A Legend Is Born - Muhammad Ali, whose given name is Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. The boxer, who proclaimed himself “The Greatest” fighter of all time, learned to fight after having his bicycle stolen as a boy. (Photo: EMPICS /Landov)
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Olympic Gold - In 1960, Clay earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team and traveled to Rome, Italy, to compete. The six-foot-three Ali was known for his lightning-quick footwork and powerful jab. After dominating his first three bouts, he defeated Zbigniew Pietrzkowski from Poland to win the gold medal.(Photo: Henry Cooper. EMPICS /Landov)
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World Heavyweight Champion - Never short on confidence, Clay had earned the nickname, "The Louisville Lip.” In 1964, the 22-year-old backed up his big talk and defeated Sonny Liston after six grueling rounds, becoming the world heavyweight champion. Upon his iconic win, the champion repeatedly yelled "I'm the greatest!" and "I shook up the world!"(Photo: Central Press/Getty Images)
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Cassius Clay Becomes Muhammad Ali - In 1964, he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad X after joining Black Muslim group the Nation of Islam, but eventually settled on Muhammad Ali. Ali said his religious beliefs prevented him from fighting in the Vietnam War, and he refused to answer his call to duty after being drafted in 1966. The following year, the boxer was entangled in a lengthy court battle with the U.S. Department of Justice and was found guilty for refusing his military service. Ali’s name was eventually cleared, but the boxing association stripped the fighter of his title and banned him from the ring for 3 and a half years. (Photo: CBS /Landov)
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Comeback and the Fight of the Century - After a three-and-a-half year hiatus, Ali returned to the ring in 1970. The next year, in what has been hailed as “The Fight of the Century,” Ali took on legendary opponent Joe Frazier. After 15 rounds, Frazier scored a knockout, taking down the former heavyweight champion. The two would meet again in 1974, in which Ali would be the victor. (Photo: B Bennett/Getty Images)
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Rumble in the Jungle - The intensity of his bouts continued to build in 1974, when Ali took on reigning heavyweight champion George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, the fight famously dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali, who was viewed as the underdog, employed what would be known as the “rope-a-dope” strategy to tire his formidable opponent. In the end, Ali would usurp Foreman’s title and again become the world heavyweight champion.(Photo: dpa /Landov)
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Thrilla in Manila - Ali would again meet foe Joe Frazier in 1975. The bout, nicknamed the "Thrilla in Manila" and held in Quezon City, Philippines, was one that lasted 14 rounds and pushed both men to their physical and emotional limits. It would be Ali who reigned supreme.(Photo: KMazur/WireImage)
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Retirement From boxing - By the late 1970s, Ali’s ferocious drive began to slow. He was defeated by Leon Spinks in 1978 and was knocked out by Larry Holmes in 1980. In 1981, he fought his final bought against Trevor Berbick, in which Ali lost his heavyweight title. He announced his retirement shortly after. However, the man whose strategy was to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” had an impressive run: He retired with a 56-5 record, 37 knockouts and a gold medal from the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and had successfully defended his title 19 times. (Photo: EMPICS /Landov)
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Diagnosed With Parkinson’s disease - In 1984, the former heavyweight champion revealed he has Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological condition of the brain that leads to shaking, called tremors, and difficulty with walking, movement and coordination. (Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation)
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Presidential Award - In 1998, Ali was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace for his work in developing countries. Ali was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor — by President George W. Bush in November 2005. “Bush called him ‘the Greatest of All Time’ and ‘a man of peace,’ and tied the Presidential Medal of Freedom around the former heavyweight champion's neck,” according to The Associated Press. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)