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Muhammad Ali Weight Class: Where Did He Fight?

Many consider Muhammad Ali to be the finest athlete ever produced by America. The heavyweight champion enjoyed a remarkable career that remains a dream for many. But, throughout his professional boxing tenure, in which weight class did Muhammad Ali compete? Let’s uncover the details.

Muhammad Ali weight class

Muhammad Ali’s greatness extended beyond a single sport. He was also known as a profound social activist and an entertainer with fans across the globe. Initially named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., Muhammad Ali achieved an immortal status, ensuring he would be remembered for ages.

Let’s delve into Muhammad Ali’s boxing career to discover his preferred weight divisions in amateur, professional, and exhibition fights, alongside his statistics and noteworthy achievements.

In Which Weight Division Did Muhammad Ali Compete?

Muhammad Ali commenced his professional boxing journey with a bout against Tunny Hunsaker, weighing in at 192 lbs. For his initial 15 professional fights, he weighed between 188 and 199 lbs. Consequently, Muhammad Ali began his career in the cruiserweight category.

On November 15, 1962, Muhammad Ali bested Archie Moore at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, marking a move to the heavyweight division by weighing 204 lbs. Post this fight, Ali no longer aimed to shed weight, and his mass progressively increased, paralleling his legend in the ring.

 

For the majority of his career, Muhammad Ali competed in the heavyweight division (over 200 lbs). He held the Ring Magazine Heavyweight Championship from 1964 to 1970, was the Undisputed Champion from 1974 to 1978, and the WBA and Ring Heavyweight Champion from 1978 to 1979.

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Muhammad Ali weight class

Muhammad Ali’s Weight Division in Amateur Boxing:

In 1954, Muhammad Ali entered the amateur boxing scene as Clay and triumphed over local boxer Ronnie O’Keefe via split decision. The gifted athlete went on to secure six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, and an Amateur Athletic Union National title.

Ali clinched the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. By the end of his amateur journey, Muhammad Ali boasted a record of 100 victories and only five defeats. During his amateur career, Muhammad Ali mainly competed in the light heavyweight class (175 lbs).

Louisville police officer and boxing coach Joe E. Martin first directed Ali towards boxing after a thief stole his bicycle. Ali, fuming over the theft, expressed his desire to confront the thief, to which Martin advised him to learn boxing first. After watching amateur boxing shows on television, Ali’s interest grew, leading him to train under Fred Stoner initially and later under Chuck Bodak.

What Was Muhammad Ali’s Weight in His Final Fight?

Muhammad Ali’s professional career spanned 61 fights. In his last match, he faced Trevor Berbic on December 11, 1981, at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre in the Bahamas. For this bout, Ali weighed the highest of his career at 236 lbs. In his final match against Berbick, Muhammad Ali weighed 236 lbs.

 

Regrettably, Berbick claimed victory, bringing Ali’s illustrious career to an end with a unanimous decision. Ali also lost his penultimate fight against former sparring partner Larry Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, weighing 217 lbs and fighting with ‘mild ataxic dysarthria’.

berbick vs ali

Following his retirement, Muhammad Ali participated in several exhibition matches. On June 26, 1976, Ali squared off against Japanese professional wrestler and MMA icon Antonio Inoki in a bout the New York Times dubbed Ali’s “least memorable fight,” ending in a draw. Additionally, he fought NFL players Lyle Alzado and Dave Semenko in 1979 and 1983 respectively, with both matches concluding in a draw.

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Muhammad Ali Career Statistics & Titles:

Below is a summary of Muhammad Ali’s storied boxing career, along with his title accomplishments:

  • Born: January 17, 1942
  • Birth Place: Louisville, Kentucky
  • Record: 56-5-0
  • Victories by KO/Submission: 37 (60.7%)
  • Championship Bouts: 25
  • Weight Class: Heavyweight
  • Fighting Style: Orthodox
  • Arm Span: 78 inches
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Last Listed Weight: 236 lbs (107kg)
  • Deceased: June 03, 2016

Muhammad Ali’s Boxing Titles:

Below are all the championship titles won by Muhammad Ali throughout his professional and amateur boxing career:

Major World Titles:

  • WBA heavyweight champion (4×)
  • WBC heavyweight champion (2×)

Additional World Titles:

The Ring Magazine Titles-

  • The Ring heavyweight champion (3×)

Lineal Titles-

  • Lineal heavyweight champion (3×)

Regional Titles:

  • NABF heavyweight champion (3×)

Amateur Titles:

  • Olympic light heavyweight champion (gold medal, 1960)
  • AAU national champion (2×)
  • National Golden Gloves champion (2×)
  • Kentucky Golden Gloves champion (6×)

ali with belt

Frequently Asked Questions:

What was Muhammad Ali’s weight?:

In his peak days, Muhammad Ali consistently weighed over 200 lbs, competing in the heavyweight category. For his last professional match against Trevor Berbick, he weighed 236 lbs (107 kg). However, during his early and amateur years, he was under 200 lbs.

 

What was Muhammad Ali’s weight against Joe Frazier?:

A: For the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight with the undefeated heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali weighed 216 lbs. The 1971 clash was heralded as the “Fight of the Century.” They faced each other two more times after this legendary match.

Why was Muhammad Ali so speedy?:

Muhammad Ali’s exceptional swiftness in the ring stemmed from a blend of natural athletic talent, swift reflexes, and superb hand-eye coordination. His dedication to training for speed and agility consistently gave him an edge in the heavyweight class.

What contributed to Ali’s size?:

Muhammad Ali’s substantial size was the result of an intense training regimen. Ali trained vigorously six days a week, 6 miles in under 40 minutes daily, combined with a 3-hour gym routine that included sit-ups, bag punching, ball punching, skipping, sparring, and shadow boxing. He personified the spirit of a true boxing legend.

How many pushups did Ali perform?:

When a journalist inquired about Ali’s pushup count, Ali answered, “About eight or nine.” The bewildered journalist was then informed by Ali, “Well, I only start counting when I can’t do anymore.” It was common knowledge that Ali didn’t favor traditional weightlifting methods.