Muhammad Ali

Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) wins heavyweight boxing championship, 1964 (The Detroit Free Press, via Newspapers.com)

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Nicknamed “The Greatest”, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest boxers of all time. Wikipedia

Learn more about Muhammad Ali through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about Muhammad Ali

Cassius Clay makes first appearance on amateur boxing TV program in 1954 Fri, Nov 12, 1954 – Page 47 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) from 1959 during early boxing career Fri, Jan 30, 1959 – Page 25 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comCassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) becomes national light-heavyweight champion at Golden Gloves at age 17 Sun, Mar 29, 1959 – Page 36 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comCassius Clay wins boxing gold medal at 1960 Olympics in Rome in light heavyweight division Tue, Sep 6, 1960 – 9 · Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPhoto of 3 American boxing gold medalists at 1960 Olympics: Wilbert McClure, Cassius Clay, Ed Crook Tue, Sep 6, 1960 – 17 · The Winona Daily News (Winona, Winona, Minnesota, United States of America) · Newspapers.comCassius Clay signs recording contract for spoken word music album called "I Am the Greatest" Thu, Aug 1, 1963 – 13 · Hattiesburg American (Hattiesburg, Forrest, Mississippi, United States of America) · Newspapers.comCassius Clay wins world heavyweight boxing championship against Sonny Liston in 1964 Wed, Feb 26, 1964 – 18 · The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.comCassius Clay's opinions about Nation of Islam and racial integration in 1964 Mon, Feb 3, 1964 – Page 18 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Newspapers.comCassius Clay is rejected for army service; Changes fighting name to Muhammad Ali Sat, Mar 21, 1964 – 55 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America) · Newspapers.comImage of Muhammad Ali with Malcolm X after Ali joined the Nation of Islam Wed, Feb 24, 1965 – Page 19 · The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.comSports editor shares his thoughts on Muhammad Ali and his personality Sat, Jun 5, 1965 – Page 14 · The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com1966 op-ed defending Muhammad Ali's right to appeal his re-classified draft status Tue, Feb 22, 1966 – Page 12 · The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.comOp-ed saying that Muhammad Ali's refusal to enter military service is "misguided" Sat, Apr 29, 1967 – Page 6 · The Danville Register (Danville, Danville, Virginia) · Newspapers.comMuhammad Ali is stripped of his heavyweight boxing title for refusing to serve in the military Sat, Apr 29, 1967 – Page 11 · Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"In Defense of Cassius Clay" by Jackie Robinson, 1967 Sat, Mar 18, 1967 – Page 7 · The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comEditorial: "Cassius Clay's Case" 1967 Sat, May 27, 1967 – Page 6 · The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comNewspaper report on the beginning of Muhammad Ali's trial for refusing to be inducted into military Tue, Jun 20, 1967 – Page 4 · The Times (Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"New Life for Clay": Feature on Muhammad Ali's life during his forced break from boxing, 1969 Wed, Aug 27, 1969 – Page 19 · The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comJoe Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali in 1971 "Fight of the Century" Tue, Mar 9, 1971 – 6 · The Montana Standard (Butte, Silver Bow, Montana, United States of America) · Newspapers.comSupreme Court clears Muhammad Ali of draft evasion charges, 1971 Tue, Jun 29, 1971 – Page 1 · Statesman Journal (Salem, Marion, Oregon, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPolitical cartoon about the Supreme Court's decision to clear Muhammad Ali of draft evasion charges Wed, Jun 30, 1971 – 12 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.comMuhammad Ali defeats George Foreman in 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" fight Thu, Oct 31, 1974 – 40 · The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNewspaper coverage of the "Thrilla in Manila" Fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 Thu, Oct 2, 1975 – Page 25 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America) · Newspapers.comMuhammad Ali retires from boxing in 1981 after losing fight to Trevor Berbick Mon, Dec 14, 1981 – Page 18 · Longview News-Journal (Longview, Gregg, Texas, United States of America) · Newspapers.comMuhammad Ali carries Olympic torch in Kentucky for 1984 Olympics Mon, May 28, 1984 – 19 · Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comMuhammad Ali is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1984 Wed, Sep 19, 1984 – 10 · The Daily Spectrum (Saint George, Washington, Utah, United States of America) · Newspapers.com2016 obituary: "Muhammad Ali dies at age 74" Sun, Jun 5, 2016 – Page A25 · Pacific Daily News (Agana, Guam, Guam, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Prayer service for Muhammad Ali draws mourners from around globe" Fri, Jun 10, 2016 – Page A8 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comRemarks of mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, on the death of Muhammad Ali in 2016 Sun, Jun 5, 2016 – Page A15 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNewspaper retrospective on the early years of Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) Sun, Jun 5, 2016 – Page K3 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNewspaper retrospective on Muhammad Ali's Vietnam draft case Sun, Jun 5, 2016 – Page K7 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Ali's confidence, cockiness made him a symbol of black pride" 2016 Fri, Jun 10, 2016 – 3 · The Atlanta Voice (Atlanta, Georgia) · Newspapers.com