Why Did Muhammad Ali Call Himself Cassius Clay?

Introducing Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali). He began boxing at age 12 after his bicycle was stolen and a police officer suggested he learn how to box. As an amateur, he won six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships, two national Golden Gloves titles, and a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics before turning pro later that year.

Nicknamed “The Greatest”, Ali is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He became known for his boxing skill as well as his charismatic personality and stance against the Vietnam War. In his 21-year professional career, he won 56 matches with 37 knockouts and was the first fighter to win the heavyweight championship three times (https://www.biography.com/athletes/muhammad-ali).

Birth Name Cassius Clay

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali). He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., who was in turn named after the 19th century abolitionist and politician Cassius Marcellus Clay (https://news.yale.edu/2016/06/09/muhammad-ali-originally-named-ardent-abolitionist-and-yale-alumnus-cassius-clay). As a child and young boxer, he went by his birth name Cassius Clay.

Why Cassius Clay?

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after the 19th century Kentucky abolitionist and politician Cassius Marcellus Clay. The original Cassius Clay was a prominent voice against slavery who worked to end the practice in Kentucky. He was also a minister, soldier, and diplomat.

Cassius Clay Sr. admired the values and achievements of his namesake and wanted to pass on the moniker to his son. As Cassius Clay Jr. recalled later in life, “I’m named after a famous, great emancipator and liberator from Kentucky who fought for black people’s rights.” So while he would later change it, Ali’s birth name connected him to an important figure in the fight against slavery.

Amateur Boxing as Cassius Clay

Cassius Clay began boxing at age 12, winning his first amateur bout in 1954 against local boxer Ronnie O’Keefe (Muhammad Ali – Wikipedia). As an amateur, he compiled a record of 100-5 fights and went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union national title, and the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome at just 18 years old.

Clay’s amateur success culminated at the 1960 Rome Olympics where he defeated Polish boxer Zbigniew Pietrzykowski to win light heavyweight gold. Clay dominated his opponents at the Olympics, never losing a single round en route to the gold medal. His Olympic performance brought national fame and established him as an American sporting hero in the early 1960s (Muhammad Ali – BoxRec).

Early Pro Career as Clay

After winning various amateur boxing titles, including a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, Cassius Clay made his professional debut on October 29, 1960, winning a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker. These early fights were not without trials. In his eighth pro fight in 1961, Clay was knocked down for the first time in his career by Sonny Banks. However, Clay got up and ended up winning the fight by knockout in the fourth round (Boxing career of Muhammad Ali).

From then until the end of 1963, Clay amassed a record of 19–0 with 15 wins by knockout. He defeated boxers including Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Donnie Fleeman, Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, Lamar Clark (who had won his previous 40 bouts by knockout), Doug Jones, and Henry Cooper (Muhammad Ali). By the time Clay turned 21 in 1963, he had already defeated several boxers with professional winning streaks of 10 or more fights, as well as 3 boxers with more than 20 professional wins to their name.

Joining the Nation of Islam

In 1964, after defeating Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion, Cassius Clay made the surprising announcement that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Cassius X (source). The Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad at the time, was a religious movement within Islam practiced primarily by African Americans.

Clay was introduced to the Nation by Malcolm X and was heavily influenced by the religious group’s teachings. He regularly attended Nation of Islam meetings and events. In an interview after the fight, Clay passionately defended the Nation and Malcolm X, signaling his commitment to the organization (source).

Joining the Nation of Islam in the 1960s was controversial but demonstrated Clay’s developing social and political consciousness. His conversion reflected a rejection of his “slave name” and a desire to connect with his African heritage.

Name Change to Muhammad Ali

After defeating Sonny Liston in 1964 to become the heavyweight champion, Cassius Clay announced that he had changed his name. At a press conference on March 6, 1964, he declared he would no longer go by his “slave name” of Cassius Clay and instead would be known as Muhammad Ali.

This name change was part of Clay’s conversion to the Nation of Islam, a religious movement for black Americans that promoted black empowerment and independence. As Clay later explained, “Cassius Clay was my slave name. I didn’t choose it and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name – it means beloved of God, and I insist people use it when people speak to me.”

By rejecting the name Clay and embracing the Muslim name Ali, he was staking a bold political and cultural stance. At the height of the civil rights movement and emerging black nationalism, Ali’s name change signified his embrace of a religious sect promoting pride, strength and autonomy for African Americans.

Why the Name Change?

The name change from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali was primarily due to Ali’s conversion to Islam and membership in the Nation of Islam. In 1964, after defeating Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion, Cassius Clay announced he had converted to Islam and joined the Nation of Islam. This African American movement combined Black Nationalist ideas with traditional Islamic beliefs. The Nation of Islam gave Cassius Clay the new name “Muhammad Ali” shortly after he joined (Euronews, 2023).

According to the Nation of Islam’s leader Elijah Muhammad, the name change served to spiritually cement Ali into the movement and separate him from his previous identity. Elijah Muhammad stated “Muhammad Ali” represented Ali’s true spiritual self and connection to his African heritage, distinct from the name Cassius Clay which he viewed as a slave name. Accepting the new name demonstrated Ali’s full commitment to the Nation of Islam (Thirteen.org, 2021).

For Ali, the name change also reflected his belief that Cassius Clay did not represent his true self and was not the name his ancestors used. The new name Muhammad Ali allowed him to forge a new identity aligned with his adopted Islamic faith and Black pride. This act established Ali as an important figure in the Nation of Islam and the larger civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Ramifications of the Change

Muhammad Ali’s decision to change his name from Cassius Clay was controversial and had significant repercussions. Many saw it as a rejection of his American identity. There was a strong backlash to Ali’s conversion to Islam and the name change, especially in the midst of the civil rights movement and racial tensions in America.

The World Boxing Association immediately stripped Ali of his title, citing his affiliation with the Nation of Islam. According to the Euronews article, Ali was essentially forced to stop fighting for 3.5 years in his athletic prime due to the backlash over his name change.

Many sportswriters and boxing fans also criticized Ali for the change, believing he had shed his American roots. There were attempts to refer to him only as Cassius Clay even after the change. Ali stood firm in his decision, even though it meant temporarily losing his livelihood and facing widespread criticism. The name change was indicative of his confidence and willingness to fight for his beliefs.

Lasting Legacy

Muhammad Ali left an indelible mark on boxing, sports, and society as a whole. After changing his name in 1964, Ali went on to become heavyweight champion three times and engaged in some of boxing’s most memorable bouts, including the “Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier and the “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman (Highlights of Muhammad Ali’s boxing career). Outside the ring, Ali was both beloved and controversial for his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, leading to his arrest and suspension from boxing for several years. Through it all, Ali demonstrated principle, courage, and skills that transcended boxing and turned him into an international icon.

Ali’s impact extended far beyond the world of sports. He was an outspoken advocate for civil rights and racial justice during the 1960s. His conversion to Islam and decision to change his “slave name” sparked discussion about black identity and religion. Decades later, Ali remained a highly visible figure, lighting the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and acting as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 1980s, Ali devoted his later years to philanthropy, including creating the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. When he died in 2016, Ali was mourned around the globe as a champion who fought for justice and inspired millions (The Best Career Moments Of Muhammad Ali).