Muhammad Ali Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Muhammad Ali Quiz
Image: Kent Gavin/Keystone/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Before Rocky Balboa won the hearts of moviegoers far and wide, a few real-life boxers captivated fans everywhere. At the top of that list has to be Muhammad Ali, who in addition to his incredible boxing prowess was just a fascinating individual with opinions he wasn’t afraid to share. He was immortalized in the 2001 film “Ali,” which earned actor Will Smith an Academy Award best actor nomination for his transformative depiction of the legend, who was often known for his unparalleled confidence.

Ali’s path was filled with the unexpected, and he wasn’t afraid of being different if it was in line with his core self. He was a fighter who moonlighted as a poet. As a boxer, he was different than most, relying more on his quick feet and his ability to “float." He changed his name, religion and took enormous risks to stand by his beliefs. Sure, he could be polarizing at times, but even his biggest detractors had to admit that he was a heck of a fighter. Despite his death in 2016, his legacy lives on through his charitable foundation, as well as his family members, including his daughter and former pro boxer, Laila Ali.

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see" was a famous Ali quote to describe his boxing style. What else can you learn about this boxing master? Take this quiz and discover if you have what it takes to knock it out!

Ali was originally named after what kind of person?
an African president
an American abolitionist
a French priest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His name at birth was Cassius Marcellus Clay, a name that he later gave up for religious reasons.

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Ali frequently called himself what?
a monster
the greatest
worthless
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His ceaseless boasting endeared him to fans and enraged his opponents.

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What year was Ali born?
1950
1942
1939
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and died in Phoenix in 2016.

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How many wins did Ali have as an amateur boxer?
100
70
60
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He amassed those 100 wins by losing only five bouts.

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In school, which grade did Ali have to repeat due to poor performance?
fifth grade
10th grade
12th grade
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Later in life he would say, "I said I was the greatest, not the smartest!"

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What were the odds against Ali when he stepped into the ring with Sonny Liston in February 1964?
4-1
7-1
12-1
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He knocked out Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world.

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In what year did Ali win a gold medal at the Olympics?
1960
1964
1968
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He won his gold in the light heavyweight division. He was only 18 years old.

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In order to win a gold medal, Ali beat a boxer from which country?
Russia
Poland
Cuba
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He beat Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, who was a three-time Olympic medalist.

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Of his first 19 professional bouts, how many did Ali win by knockout?
19
18
15
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He went undefeated in those first 19, but they didn't all come easily.

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In 2009, to see the homeland of his grandfather, Ali visited which country?
Nigeria
Burkina Faso
Ireland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

More than 10,000 people turned up in Ennis, Ireland, to make him an honorary citizen.

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Ali lit the cauldron to signal the beginning of which Olympic Games?
1994 Winter Games
1996 Summer Games
2000 Summer Games
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ali was 54 years old at the time and suffering from serious deterioration in his motor skills.

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As a child, why did Ali first take up boxing?
Someone stole his bike.
He had an abusive stepfather.
A neighbor wanted to harness his volatile temper.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A police officer who witnessed his frustration wound up teaching him boxing skills.

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What disease did Ali develop late in his life?
Parkinson's
Alzheimer's
cancer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In spite of his visible tremors, he continued his humanitarian work. The disease may have been spurred by too many blows to the head.

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Ali met with which leader in order to secure the release of American hostages?
Moammar Gadhafi
Ayatollah Khomeini
Saddam Hussein
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He met with Hussein in 1990 and was criticized by some in the media, as well as President Bush.

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After he was drafted, why did Ali refuse to serve in the Vietnam War?
He had a beef with President Nixon.
He said it was against his religious beliefs.
He had a heart condition.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He had joined the Nation of Islam in 1964 and started to reform his life in accordance with Muslim teachings.

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After joining the Nation of Islam, what was Ali's name?
Cassius X
Cassius Y
Cassius Z
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Just a couple of weeks later, he received his official Muslim name, Muhammad Ali.

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What was Ali's punishment for refusing to serve in the Vietnam War?
two-year prison sentence
five years probation
banned from boxing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He was banned from boxing for three years and didn't fight again until 1970.

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What career did Ali take up during his boxing ban?
acting
songwriting
poetry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He performed in a short-lived Broadway musical called "Buck White" and was praised for his singing ability.

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In 1978, which boxer beat Ali and took away his heavyweight title?
Leo Randolph
Leon Spinks
Sugar Ray Leonard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was regarded as one of boxing's biggest upsets and showed that Ali was on the decline.

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How long did it take for Ali to retake the championship from Spinks?
seven months
a year
two years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ali trained harder and fought smarter and beat Spinks after a 15-round decision.

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In which country did the "Rumble in the Jungle" take place?
Zaire (Congo)
Nigeria
Namibia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

About 60,000 people showed up to watch Ali take on George Foreman in 1974.

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The New York Times predicted that Foreman would beat Ali in how many rounds?
one
two
10
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Foreman was six years younger and considered the hardest-punching boxer in history.

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How many rounds did it take Ali to beat Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle"?
three rounds
five rounds
eight rounds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ali taunted Foreman mercilessly, encouraging Foreman to expend energy in ways that he would come to regret.

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How many times did Ali fight Joe Frazier?
once
twice
three times
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The final fight was called the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975 in the Philippines.

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In total, how many times were both Ali and Frazier knocked down during their three bouts?
once
four times
seven times
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ali went down once in the pair's first fight, which he lost; Frazier never hit the mat.

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How many rounds was the "Thrilla in Manila"?
14
10
eight
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ali won by technical knockout when Frazier's side conceded.

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How did Foreman feel about Ali after losing to him in Congo?
He never spoke to Ali again.
He hated Ali.
He tried to kill Ali.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After a few years, the two actually became best friends. Foreman eventually said that Ali was the greatest man he'd ever known.

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Who broke Ali's jaw during a fight?
Ken Norton
Joe Frazier
Sonny Liston
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Norton handed Ali his second pro defeat in 1973 and also broke his jaw.

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In what year did Ali finally (permanently) retire?
1979
1981
1983
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His final loss came to Trevor Berbick, a Jamaican who was murdered in 2006.

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Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from which president?
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ali championed charitable work throughout his life and is known for his goodwill as much as his boxing feats.

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