Muhammad Ali: Life and Legend Quiz

By: Tasha Moore
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Muhammad Ali: Life and Legend Quiz
Image: ESPN

About This Quiz

We'll be impressed if you have the boxing history wits that it takes to contend with these rare Muhammad Ali facts. American icon Muhammad Ali was "The Greatest" boxer of all time. Honor the legend and his contributions to the sport of boxing; prove your comprehension of the wins and losses of Muhammad Ali's life.

Taking a jab at some Ali trivia shouldn't be too difficult for anyone, whether you follow boxing or not. Muhammad Ali was one of the first athletes whose exquisite talents matched his mouth. He was an ultra-famous entertainment powerhouse, as well as one of the most gifted fighters that ever hit the boxing ring. Though he did not come from poverty, Ali had a lot to prove socially and personally. From his battle with dyslexia to his fight with Parkinson's disease and all his career bouts in between, Muhammad Ali shared some of his trials publicly and attempted to obscure others. It was the good paired with the bad that made him the walking contradiction that America loved to hate when he refused to serve in the military before his country grew to adore him for most of his post-boxing years.

Shuffle through this quiz to behold Muhammad Ali's fascinating life one more time. 

Muhammad Ali
Wiki Commons by Ira Rosenberg
Do you recall the technique that Muhammad Ali used against George Foreman during their fight in Africa?
Rope-a-dope
Hooked on Phonics
Screen and roll
Run block
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On October 30, 1974, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali reigned victorious in his Zaire, Africa fight against George Foreman. George succumbed to Ali's rope-a-dope mastery in the eighth round. Ali returned to America on Friday, November 2, 1974, to cheering crowds at Chicago's Midway Airport.

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Parkinsons disease
Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab (SCIL) / Cultura / Getty Images
Do you know what neurological disorder Muhammad Ali developed later in his life?
Erb's palsy
Adie syndrome
Joubert syndrome
Parkinson's disease
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diagnosed with the illness at age 42, Muhammad Ali had long been an advocate in the fight against Parkinson's disease, a debilitating disorder of the central nervous system. With his wife Lonnie, Ali co-founded the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2005.

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George Foreman
Wiki Commons by Bert Verhoeff, Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau
Whom did Muhammad Ali fight while in Zaire, Africa?
Sugar Ray Robinson
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Jersey Joe Walcott
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali touched ground at N'Djili airport in Kinshasa, Zaire on September 11, 1974, for his momentous fight against challenger George Foreman, who was described as the biggest man on the planet. Ali and Foreman squared off during a WBA/WBC championship match.

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Dyslexia
Pgiam / E+ / Getty Images
What learning disorder affected Muhammad Ali's reading comprehension?
Acrophobia
Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Anxiety
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though Muhammad Ali was a wordsmith in the public eye, he was dyslexic, a condition that impaired his reading comprehension. In high school, Ali scored at the bottom of his class, and he scored low on the U.S. Army's aptitude exam.

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Leon Spinks
Wiki Commons by Johnmaxmena
Select the 24-year-old boxer who defeated Muhammad Ali on national television in 1978.
Leon Spinks
Manny Pacquiao
George Foreman
Lennox Lewis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leon Spinks shocked the boxing world by defeating Muhammad Ali for the World Heavyweight Championship on February 15, 1978. Ali won a follow-up bout against Spinks in a unanimous 15-round decision on September 16, 1978, at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Muhammad Ali 1974
Wiki Commons by El Gráfico
Do you know who Muhammad Ali fought in February 1973?
Joe Bugner
Floyd Mayweather
Sugar Ray Leonard
Oscar De La Hoya
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali faced British and European Heavyweight Champion Joe Bugner in a 12-round heavyweight battle held on February 14, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ali secured the win on a points decision unanimously.

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Malcolm X
Wiki Commons by Marion S. Trikosko
Which American civil rights leaders did Muhammad Ali call a friend and mentor at one point?
Booker T. Washington
Mahatma Gandhi
Nelson Mandela
Malcolm X
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eventually, Muhammad Ali would sever his ties with Malcolm X after the civil rights leader fell out with Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, but Ali had treated Malcolm X like his big brother. Malcolm X was a big boxing fan, and Ali admired the self-improvement philosophies Malcolm echoed.

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Howard Cosell
Wiki Commons by ABC Television
Do you know which famous sports journalist among the options appeared to be close friends with Muhammad Ali in public?
Howard Cosell
Marv Albert
Dick Enberg
Jack Buck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though Howard Cosell defended Muhammad Ali's right to flex political dissent, Cosell was criticized for not publicly supporting Ali's claim as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War draft. Ali and Cosell are known to have engaged in vocal sparring matches about many issues.

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Joe Frazier
Wiki Commons by Hans Peters (ANEFO), Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO)
ID the challenger who knocked Muhammad Ali down in the boxing ring in 1971.
Anthony Joshua
Joe Frazier
Gennady Golovkin
Jack Dempsey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali's 1971 fight with Joe Frazier is perhaps one of the most celebrated moments in boxing history. Although Frazier knocked Ali down with a brutal left hook at one point, the vicious fight ended with a defeated Ali still standing.

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Olympic Medals
Wiki Commons by Sheba_Also 43,000 photos
Choose the medal that the International Olympic Committee gave Muhammad Ali at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.
Titanium
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch awarded Muhammad Ali the gold medal during a halftime ceremony at the men's basketball finals. The medal was meant to replace the lost one that Ali had won during the Olympic Games in 1960.

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Cadillac 1970
Wiki Commons by Sicnag
How easy is it for you to remember the car Muhammad Ali purchased as soon as he turned pro?
Pink Cadillac
Blue Rolls Royce
Red Mustang
Silver Porsche
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali's second-hand car was more of a reward for turning pro from his 11 monied Louisville investors. It's rumored that Ali paid his secret crush, gold-medal sprinter Wilma Rudolph, a surprise visit in the car at her school, Tennessee State University.

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Muhammad Ali 1963
Wiki Commons by PA
Muhammad Ali petitioned the U.S. draft board to excuse his obligation for military service during the Vietnam War based on what?
Race
Gender
Religion
Social status
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali formally cited his religious convictions as a new convert to Islam when he refused to be drafted. Informally, however, the boxer referenced social and racial disparities as additional reasons for his refusal to fight the war in Vietnam.

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Muhammad Ali retired
Wiki Commons by World Economic Forum
Do you know what occupation Muhammad Ali proudly assumed after his retirement?
Sportscaster
Boxing trainer
Humanitarian
Race car driver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali was heavily involved with many organizations, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Ali had been most intricately active with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center and the Muhammad Ali Center.

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Ken Norton
Wiki Commons by Mondadori Publishers
How well do you recognize the boxer who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw in 1973?
Jersey Joe Walcott
Joe Frazier
Ken Norton
Mike Tyson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ex-marine Ken Norton broke Muhammad Ali's jaw during their 12-round heavyweight fight held at the Sports Arena on March 31, 1973, in San Diego, California. Ken Norton ultimately won the match by split decision.

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Johnny Carson 1965
Wiki Commons by NBC Television
Muhammad Ali appeared on many television programs. Do you see one of them among the choices?
"The Daily Show"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
"The Talk"
"The Johnny Carson Show"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali appeared on "The Johnny Carson Show" several times. Ali once expressed his appreciation for the talk show host, saying, "I get along with Johnny Carson. He speaks nice, he asks me nice questions, he treats me like a man, calls me by my name, Muhammad Ali."

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Muhammad Ali8
Wiki Commons by Srichinmoycentre.org
What political term did Muhammad Ali invoke when he refused to be drafted during the Vietnam War?
Conscientious objector
Natural citizen
Communist sympathizer
AWOL
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The United States draft board denied Muhammad Ali's petition to be classified as a conscientious objector. Muhammad Ali had refused induction into the United States military in 1967.

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Floyd Patterson
Wiki Commons by Materialscientist
Muhammad Ali retained his heavyweight title against which contender on November 22, 1965?
Evander Holyfield
Rocky Marciano
Floyd Patterson
Joe Louis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Muhammad Ali versus Floyd Patterson fight took place on November 22, 1965, in Las Vegas Nevada. Muhammad Ali, the WBC Heavyweight title holder, secured his rank by TKO during the Convention Center bout.

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Angelo Dundee
Wiki Commons by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com
We'll be impressed if you can guess the name of Muhammad Ali's boxing trainer.
Cus D'Amato
Angelo Dundee
Ricardo Fortaleza
Teddy Atlas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Angelo Dundee was Muhammad Ali's trainer for the champ's entire boxing career. Ali was 16 years old when he met Dundee at the local gym in Louisville, Kentucky where Dundee had trained boxing legends such as Carmen Basilio, Willie Pastrano and Luis Manuel Rodriguez.

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Muhammad Ali 1960
Wiki Commons by Materialscientist
How old was Muhammad Ali when he first fought Sonny Liston?
16
22
36
19
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight champion. A big fighter, Liston was known to knock out his opponents. Skeptics had said that a young Ali would get knocked out or even killed. Ali's words before the fight: "Sonny Liston is great, but he'll fall in eight!"

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Muhammad Ali9
Wiki Commons by Kadir-cildir
What did the boxing world name the punch that defeated Sonny Liston in 1965?
The Phantom Punch
The Out-To-Lunch Punch
The Lights-Out Punch
The Sleepy Punch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine, Muhammad Ali shocked the boxing world by dropping his opponent and ending the rematch in less than two minutes into the fight's first round. Shortly after Ali's punch, John Rooney's iconic image of Ali towering over Liston was photographed.

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Laila Ali
Wiki Commons by Gage Skidmore
ID Muhammad Ali's daughter, who went on to have a successful boxing career.
Tatyana Ali
Jessica Ali
Alicia Ali
Laila Ali
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When she was 21 years old, Muhammad Ali's daughter Laila won her boxing debut fight against competitor April Fowler by KO in 31 seconds of the first round. Laila Ali is Muhammad Ali's second daughter by his third wife, Veronica Anderson. Laila was seven years old when her parents divorced.

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Muhammad Ali 2012
Wiki Commons by Pete troshak
Have you figured out the date when Muhammad Ali passed away?
September 15, 1965
March 10, 2017
June 3, 2016
December 17, 2006
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali's battle with Parkinson's disease ended when he passed on Friday, June 3, 2016, at the age of 74. Ali's jenazah, or funeral in Arabic, was held on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky where the icon defeated Willi Besmanoff in 1961.

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US Chief Justice Warren Burger 1971
Wiki Commons by Tim
In what year did the United States Supreme Court rescind Muhammad Ali's boxing ban for refusing to serve in the military?
1971
1955
2012
1967
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Because he refused to serve in the military during the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing until the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the U.S. government hadn't properly made its case against him. When Ali was banned, he was stripped of his medals and world champion title.

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Muhammad Ali 1970
Wiki Commons by El Gráfico
What social class was Muhammad Ali's family during his childhood?
Upper-middle class
Middle class
Lower class
Upper class
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's been suggested that Muhammad Ali's signature name calling of his opponents was due to insecurity concerning his middle-class upbringing. As with most boxing successes, Ali's most renowned opponents George Foreman and Joe Frazier, for example, sprung to greatness from poverty.

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Muhammad Ali 1996
Olympic
Have you figured out the year that Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame at the Summer Games in Atlanta?
2005
1973
1996
1967
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali was noticeably affected by Parkinson's disease when he climbed the steps to light the Olympic cauldron at the Centennial Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Ali attended the boxing finals at the Games held on Sunday, August 4, 1996.

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Muhammad Ali1 1966
Wiki Commons by Materialscientist
Name the enterprise that first sponsored Muhammad Ali's professional boxing career?
The Kentucky Boys
American Boxing Group
Louisville Sponsoring Group
The Louisville Hitters
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Louisville Sponsoring Group was a group of businessmen from Ali's hometown who financed the early days of his career. The businessmen were convinced of Ali's potential after he had won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games and even paid him a monthly salary while they managed him.

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Muhammad Ali 1976
Wiki Commons by El Gráfico team of photographers
At what age did Muhammad Ali step into the boxing ring for the very first time?
16
8
12
21
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Even at a very young age, Muhammad Ali, then known by his birth name Cassius Clay, vowed to be the greatest boxer of all time. A teenaged Cassius Clay defeated neighborhood bully Corky Baker in a fight which greatly helped boost the champion's confidence in the boxing ring after that.

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Muhammad Ali6
Wiki Commons by PA
Do you recognize one of Ali's nicknames from the choices?
The Louisville Slugger
The Mouth from the South
The Louisville Lip
The Great Bambino
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali acquired the derisive nickname The Louisville Lip, a name that made light of the boxer's perceived immaturity, especially around the time he won the chance to fight Sonny Liston. At the start of his career in the public eye, Ali felt that bad sportsmanship suited him.

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Will Smith
Wiki Commons by Will Smith
Is it a challenge for you to identify the mega Hollywood actor who portrayed Muhammad Ali in the biopic "Ali"?
Tom Cruise
Will Smith
Samuel L. Jackson
Chris Hemsworth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali expressed that he was pleased with Will Smith's performance in the film, which debuted on Christmas Day 2001. Ali said, "He's the only guy in the world who can look like me and act like me."

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Cassius Clay
Wiki Commons by CoffeeEngineer
Cassius Clay changed his name to ________ before he accepted the name Muhammad Ali.
Cassius Muhammad
Cassius X
Muhammad X
Cassius Ali
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shortly after Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) joined the Nation of Islam, he changed his name to Cassius X. Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad decided to give Cassius "a greater honor" by giving him the new first and last name Muhammad Ali.

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Muhammad Ali2
OWN
Can you identify the award that Sports Illustrated changed to honor Muhammad Ali?
ESPY Award
Sportsman of the Year Award
Heisman Trophy
Laureus World Sports Award
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sports Illustrated changed the award's name during a dedication ceremony held at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky on October 1, 2015. Ali and his family were in attendance, as well as Larry Holmes, George Foreman and other distinguished guests.

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Lonnie Ali
Wiki Commons by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com
What is the name of Muhammad Ali's wife?
Felicia Ali
Laila Ali
Lonnie Ali
Tatyana Ali
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie disclosed that the secret to their long and peaceful union was communication. The couple had been married for 30 years before Muhammad Ali died in 2016.

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Liberty Medal
Wiki Commons by National Archives
Prove that you know the year when Muhammad Ali received the Liberty Medal.
1986
1945
1936
2012
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie were in attendance for the honor at the Liberty Medal award ceremony held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on September 13, 2012. Other Liberty Medal recipients include Nelson Mandela and Sandra Day O'Connor.

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Riesa
Wiki Commons by User:Kolossos
Do you know the German town where the film "Ali" debuted on Friday, June 28, 2002?
Riesa
Paderborn
Bremen
Kassel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To promote the June 28, 2002, eastern Germany movie screening of "Ali," Muhammad Ali posed and sparred with former German contenders Juergen Blin and Karl Mildenberger. The movie centered on Ali's personal life and controversies that plagued his boxing career.

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Khalilah Camacho-Ali
CNN
Which of these women was Muhammad Ali's wife, who earned a black belt in karate?
Khalilah Camacho-Ali
Sonji Roi
Lonnie Ali
Veronica Ali
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Khalilah Camacho-Ali earned a black belt in karate when she was only 10 years old. Muhammad Ali and Khalilah were married for 10 years before they divorced in 1977. The couple had four children together.

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Muhammad Ali 1997
Boxing VHS
In what year was Muhammad Ali formally recognized as an Olympic sports legend?
1998
2001
1969
1951
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On Wednesday, December 16, 1998, Muhammad Ali had the honor of being the first member of the newly established hall of Olympic spirit legends. In 1999, the complete roster of Olympic heroes was unveiled in Munich, Germany.

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Muhammad Ali 1966
Wiki Commons by Panini
What is the name of the famous art director who produced the famous Esquire magazine portrait of Muhammad Ali in 1968?
George Lois
Andy Warhol
Jeff Koons
Marcel Duchamp
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At the time when Muhammad Ali fielded heavy criticism for objecting to the Vietnam War and refusing to be drafted, George Lois posed Ali in the likeness of St. Sebastian, a Christian martyr who was slain by arrows. At first, Ali objected to the pose for Esquire, considering his conversion to Islam.

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Muhammad Ali Punched
Wiki Commons by Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library
Muhammad Ali was punched roughly how many times during his career?
16,000
30,000
200,000
1,000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The boxing statistics company CompuBox estimates that Muhammad Ali very likely received roughly 200,000 shots during his boxing career. Speech specialists estimate that between 1970 and 1980, Ali lost approximately 25 percent of his speech.

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Boxing Ring
Rimagine Group Limited / Image Source / Getty Images
The first boxing gym that Muhammad Ali used belonged to ________?
Don King
Angelo Dundee
Joe Martin
Jeff Fenech
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was by accident that Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, discovered boxing clinics for kids in Martin's gym. After someone had stolen Cassius's $50 Schwinn bike, he sought the help of police officer Joe Martin, who had an office and a boxing gym in the basement of the Columbia Auditorium.

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brain scan
Roxana Wegner / Moment / Getty Images
Are you aware of the year that Muhammad Ali first started showing signs of brain damage caused by punches he received in the boxing ring?
1971
2000
1987
1936
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammad Ali's fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco mentioned that he saw first signs of permanent brain damage in Ali after his first fight with George Frazier in 1971. Ali would continue to fight for 10 more years. By the mid-'70s, Muhammad Ali's parents noticed him mumbling and slurring words.

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