Page 82 - Will Smith: A Biography of a Rapper Turned Movie Star

Will Smith
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Muhammad Ali is ranked as one of the
greatest boxers of all time and is one of
the world’s most famous athletes. Yet he is
also one of the most controversial sports
figures in American history. Ali’s original
name was Cassius Clay. In 1964, he joined
the Nation of Islam, a religious group also
known as Black Muslims, and changed his
name to Muhammad Ali. During his
career as a fighter, Ali was the first boxer
to win the heavyweight title three times:
in 1964, 1974, and 1978. Ali retired from
boxing in 1981, and despite the limitations
of Parkinson’s syndrome, he has devoted
his time and energy to raising money for
charities and working for world peace.
Muhammad Ali