Muhammad Ali was born on 17 January 1942 in Louisville. An American boxer born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali won Olympic gold in 1960 and then the world heavyweight title by upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964. He announced his conversion to Islam and his new name, and in 1967 he refused induction into the army during the Vietnam War, which cost him his title, his boxing licence and several prime years. After the Supreme Court cleared him he returned, losing to Joe Frazier in 1971 and then regaining the title by beating George Foreman in Zaire in 1974 and winning again against Frazier in 1975. He became a symbol of resistance and charisma worldwide and spent his later years living with Parkinson's disease.
Before and after
- 1942Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia
- 1942Construction of London Stansted Airport
- 8 January 1942Birth of Junichiro Koizumi
- 8 January 1942Birth of Stephen Hawking
- 17 January 1942Birth of Muhammad Ali
- 20 January 1942Wannsee Conference
- 1 February 1942Launch of Voice of America
- from 8 February 1942 to 15 February 1942Battle of Singapore
- from 14 February 1942 to 1 January 1945Rise of Armia Krajowa
More in Society, economy & sport
- 16 October 1923Founding of The Walt Disney Company
- from 3 August 1936 to 9 August 1936Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in Berlin
- November 1938Kristallnacht
- 1940Katyn massacre
- 15 May 1940Founding of McDonald's
- 1941Rise of Vietnamese Independence League
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.