Breaking News

Muhammad Ali's health battle: What is Parkinson's disease?

By Jacque Wilson Smith, CNN

Updated 5:08 PM ET, Sat June 4, 2016

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Since winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, Muhammad Ali has never been far from the public eye. Take a look at the life and career of Ali, the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The Greatest."
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Since winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics, Muhammad Ali has never been far from the public eye. Take a look at the life and career of Ali, the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The Greatest."
Hide Caption
1 of 52
Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, poses in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, prior to his amateur boxing debut in 1954. He was 12 years old and 85 pounds. As an amateur, he won 100 out of 108 fights.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, poses in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, prior to his amateur boxing debut in 1954. He was 12 years old and 85 pounds. As an amateur, he won 100 out of 108 fights.
Hide Caption
2 of 52
Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he claimed a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he claimed a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division.
Hide Caption
3 of 52
Ali boldly predicted it would take him five rounds to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper ahead of their bout in London in 1963. The fight was stopped in the fifth round as Cooper was bleeding heavily from a cut around his eye.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali boldly predicted it would take him five rounds to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper ahead of their bout in London in 1963. The fight was stopped in the fifth round as Cooper was bleeding heavily from a cut around his eye.
Hide Caption
4 of 52
Patrick Power, 6, takes on Ali in the ring in 1963. Patrick was taking boxing lessons after getting bullied.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Patrick Power, 6, takes on Ali in the ring in 1963. Patrick was taking boxing lessons after getting bullied.
Hide Caption
5 of 52
Ali poses for a picture with The Beatles in Miami, during the run-up to his heavyweight title fight against Sonny Liston in 1964.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali poses for a picture with The Beatles in Miami, during the run-up to his heavyweight title fight against Sonny Liston in 1964.
Hide Caption
6 of 52
Ali celebrates after defeating Liston in Miami on February 25, 1964. Upon becoming world heavyweight champion for the first time, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest!"
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali celebrates after defeating Liston in Miami on February 25, 1964. Upon becoming world heavyweight champion for the first time, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest!"
Hide Caption
7 of 52
Ali relaxes after his win over Liston in 1964. At 22, he became the youngest boxer to take the heavyweight title from a reigning champion.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali relaxes after his win over Liston in 1964. At 22, he became the youngest boxer to take the heavyweight title from a reigning champion.
Hide Caption
8 of 52
Civil rights activist Malcolm X, left, takes a picture of a tuxedo-clad Ali surrounded by jubilant fans in March 1964. Shortly after the Liston fight, Ali announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Civil rights activist Malcolm X, left, takes a picture of a tuxedo-clad Ali surrounded by jubilant fans in March 1964. Shortly after the Liston fight, Ali announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay.
Hide Caption
9 of 52
Known for being as quick with his mouth as he was with his hands, Ali often taunted his opponents. He famously said he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Known for being as quick with his mouth as he was with his hands, Ali often taunted his opponents. He famously said he could "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."
Hide Caption
10 of 52
Ali prepares to defend his heavyweight title in 1965.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali prepares to defend his heavyweight title in 1965.
Hide Caption
11 of 52
Ali stands over Liston during their rematch in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali stands over Liston during their rematch in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965.
Hide Caption
12 of 52
Ali eats at a restaurant in 1965.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali eats at a restaurant in 1965.
Hide Caption
13 of 52
The referee pushes Ali to a neutral corner as Floyd Patterson slumps to the canvas in November 1965. The fight was stopped at the end of the 12th round and Ali was declared the winner.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
The referee pushes Ali to a neutral corner as Floyd Patterson slumps to the canvas in November 1965. The fight was stopped at the end of the 12th round and Ali was declared the winner.
Hide Caption
14 of 52
Ali signs an autograph for a fan in 1966.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali signs an autograph for a fan in 1966.
Hide Caption
15 of 52
Ali visits a children's home in London in May 1966.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali visits a children's home in London in May 1966.
Hide Caption
16 of 52
Ali trains for his second fight against British champion Henry Cooper in May 1966.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali trains for his second fight against British champion Henry Cooper in May 1966.
Hide Caption
17 of 52
British talk-show host Eamonn Andrews shares a laugh with Ali in May 1966.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
British talk-show host Eamonn Andrews shares a laugh with Ali in May 1966.
Hide Caption
18 of 52
Ali lands a right to the head of Brian London during their bout in London on August 6, 1966. Ali won by a knockout in the third round.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali lands a right to the head of Brian London during their bout in London on August 6, 1966. Ali won by a knockout in the third round.
Hide Caption
19 of 52
Ali looks in his hotel-room mirror in February 1967.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali looks in his hotel-room mirror in February 1967.
Hide Caption
20 of 52
The referee counts as Ali looks down at Zora Folley during a championship fight in New York on March 23, 1967. Ali won by a knockout in the seventh round.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
The referee counts as Ali looks down at Zora Folley during a championship fight in New York on March 23, 1967. Ali won by a knockout in the seventh round.
Hide Caption
21 of 52
As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army in April 1967. Here, top athletes from various sports gather to support Ali as he gives his reasons for rejecting the draft. Seated in the front row, from left to right, are Bill Russell, Ali, Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army in April 1967. Here, top athletes from various sports gather to support Ali as he gives his reasons for rejecting the draft. Seated in the front row, from left to right, are Bill Russell, Ali, Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Hide Caption
22 of 52
Ali walks through the streets of New York with members of the Black Panther Party in September 1970. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for his refusal to enter the draft, and he was also stripped of his boxing title. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in 1971, but by that time Ali had already become a figurehead of resistance and a hero to many. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/sport/muhammad-ali-three-days/index.html" target="_blank">Related: Photographer fondly recalls his three days with Ali</a>
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali walks through the streets of New York with members of the Black Panther Party in September 1970. Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for his refusal to enter the draft, and he was also stripped of his boxing title. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in 1971, but by that time Ali had already become a figurehead of resistance and a hero to many. Related: Photographer fondly recalls his three days with Ali
Hide Caption
23 of 52
On November 2, 1970, Ali returned to the ring for his first professional fight in three years. He defeated Jerry Quarry in the third round.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
On November 2, 1970, Ali returned to the ring for his first professional fight in three years. He defeated Jerry Quarry in the third round.
Hide Caption
24 of 52
Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse to fight for Frazier's title on March 8, 1971, in New York. Frazier won by unanimous decision, handing Ali his first professional loss.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse to fight for Frazier's title on March 8, 1971, in New York. Frazier won by unanimous decision, handing Ali his first professional loss.
Hide Caption
25 of 52
Ali toys with the finely combed hair of television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials in August 1972.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali toys with the finely combed hair of television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials in August 1972.
Hide Caption
26 of 52
Ali and Frazier appear on "The Dick Cavett Show" in January 1974. The two got into a brawl in ABC's New York studio and were fined $5,000 each.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali and Frazier appear on "The Dick Cavett Show" in January 1974. The two got into a brawl in ABC's New York studio and were fined $5,000 each.
Hide Caption
27 of 52
Ali passes a cheering crowd in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), on September 28, 1974. Ali was in the country to fight George Foreman, who had recently defeated Frazier to win the title.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali passes a cheering crowd in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), on September 28, 1974. Ali was in the country to fight George Foreman, who had recently defeated Frazier to win the title.
Hide Caption
28 of 52
Ali and Foreman fight October 30, 1974, in what was billed as <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/30/worldsport/gallery/rumble-in-the-jungle-40-years/index.html" target="_blank">"The Rumble in the Jungle."</a> Ali, a huge underdog, knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the title that was stripped from him in 1967.
Photos: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
Ali and Foreman fight October 30, 1974, in what was billed as "The Rumble in the Jungle." Ali, a huge underdog, knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the title that was stripped from him in 1967.
Hide Caption
29 of 52
Ali addresses a Nation of Islam meeting in London in December 1974. The following year, Ali left the Nation and embraced a more mainstream Islamic faith.