Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in January 1942, the future world boxing champion grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. Here, the young Clay is pictured (left) with his younger brother.
Clay poses in boxing shorts shortly after taking up the sport. Clay was introduced to boxing by policeman and boxing trainer Joe Martin in 1954 after Clay, who was irate at having his bicycle stolen,
Clay poses at Angelo Dundee’s 5th St Gym in Miami Beach, Florida. After turning pro, Clay was initially trained by Archie Moore before switching to Dundee.
Clay makes fun of his future opponent Sonny Liston. The two fighters met in two world heavyweight title bouts that featured plenty of verbal jabs outside the ring. Photograph: James Drake
Clay gets dressed up for a photoshoot in New York City. In the build-up to his first fight with Liston, Clay famously declared that he would “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”.
Clay takes a breather during an early morning run through Hyde Park, London. Clay was preparing for his world heavyweight title fight with Liston, which was held in Miami.
After beating Liston, Clay celebrates with Malcolm X. Rumours had already circulated that Clay had joined the Nation of Islam religious movement, and he finally declared them to be true the day after
Ali reads the Sunday Express newspaper after demolishing Henry Cooper in their second fight in 1966
Ali looks skyward as he leaves court in Houston after a federal judge tossed out his last legal effort to avoid being drafted into the army. Ali refused to fight in Vietnam on account of his religiou
Ali trains in Zürich for his fight against the West German Jürgen Blin, with his twin daughters Jamillah and Rasheda in a pushchair.