On This Day

Boxing legend Cassius Clay joins the Nation of Islam and changes his name to "Muhammad Ali," calling his former title a

Boxing legend Cassius Clay joins the Nation of Islam and changes his name to "Muhammad Ali," calling his former title a "slave name"

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer widely regarded by many boxing historians as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. The Ring magazine rated him number one in a ranking of greatest heavyweights from all eras in 1998. In 1999, the Associated Press voted Ali the number one heavyweight and second-greatest fighter of the 20th century. That same year, ESPN ranked him third on its list of the Top North American Athletes of the Century, and an ESPN poll named him the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time. Ali is the only three-time lineal and undisputed world heavyweight champion.

Historical Significance

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer widely regarded by many boxing historians as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

Key People

Muhammad Ali

Athlete

American boxer and activist

Events Before

  1. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech

    Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, calling for an end to racism in the United States.

  2. David Cone is born

    David Cone athlete, known for american baseball player and analyst, was born on 1963-01-02.

  3. American banker George Woods succeeds Eugene Black as president of the World Bank

    George David Woods (July 27, 1901 – August 20, 1982) was an American investment banker and financier. He served as the fourth President of the World Bank, from January 1963 until March 1968.

  4. Beatles release the single "Please Please Me" / "Ask Me Why"; peaks at #2 in UK, and #3 in US

    Introducing... The Beatles is the first studio album released by the English rock band the Beatles in the United States.

  5. Los Angeles night club and music venue The Whiskey A-Go-Go opens (inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2006)

    The Yardbirds are an English rock band formed in London in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) and Jimmy Page...

Events After

  1. 49-year-old former England international soccer forward Stanley Matthews is the only player to be awarded a knighthood w

    49-year-old former England international soccer forward Stanley Matthews is the only player to be awarded a knighthood while still playing for Stoke City

  2. State funeral for Winston Churchill at St Paul's Cathedral in London; at the time, the world's largest-ever state funera

    State funeral for Winston Churchill at St Paul's Cathedral in London; at the time, the world's largest-ever state funeral

  3. Righteous Brothers' music single "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" hits #1

    "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" is a song by Phil Spector, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, first recorded in 1964 by the American vocal duo the Righteous Brothers.

  4. One of the most popular musical films of all time, "The Sound of Music," starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer,

    One of the most popular musical films of all time, "The Sound of Music," starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, premieres (Academy Award for Best Picture - 1966)

  5. Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov leaves his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes and becomes the first person to conduct a

    Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov leaves his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes and becomes the first person to conduct a spacewalk

More from the 1960s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on March 6, 1964?
Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer widely regarded by many boxing historians as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. The Ring magazine rated him number one in a ranking of greatest heavyweights from all eras in 1998. In 1999, the Associated Press voted Ali the number one heavyweight and second-greatest fighter of the 20th century.
Why is Boxing legend Cassius Clay joins the Nation of Islam and changes his name to ... significant?
Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer widely regarded by many boxing historians as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
Who was involved in Boxing legend Cassius Clay joins the Nation of Islam and changes his name to ...?
Key figures include Muhammad Ali (Athlete).

Explore More