His father, Cassius Clay, Sr., worked as a sign painter and his mother, Odessa, worked as a maid.

He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942. Ali began boxing at the age of twelve. Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, the first of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay's two sons. Nicknamed "The Greatest," he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time. During the time Cassius … In his first title defense in May 1965 Ali defeated Sonny Liston with a first-round knockout. Later the Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad (1897–1975) gave him the name Muhammad Ali, which means "beloved of Allah." Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. His father was a sign painter who also loved to act, sing, and dance; his mother worked as a cleaning lady when money was tight. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Muhammad Ali's birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. January 17, 1942 – 3 June 2016) was an Olympic and World Champion boxer, who also had a unique personality, based on self-belief and strong religious and political convictions. Ali successfully … He started boxing when he was 12 and went on to win light-heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics in Rome Biography: Where was Muhammad Ali born? Muhammad Ali (/ ɑː ˈ l iː /; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942. Young Cassius had a younger brother named Rudy. (Allah is the god worshipped by Muslims.) In 1999, Ali was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated. (Many called it a phantom punch because it was so fast and powerful that few watching the fight even saw it.) The Clays weren't rich, but they weren't poor either.