Here is a look at the life of Cassius Clay, better known as Muhammad Ali, three-time World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic gold medalist.

Personal: Birth date: January 17, 1942

Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky

Birth name: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.

Father: Cassius (Cash) Clay, a sign and mural painter

Mother: Odessa (Grady) Clay.

Marriages: Yolanda (Lonnie) Williams (November 19, 1986 - present); Veronica Porche (1977 - 1985, divorce); Kalilah Tolona (Belinda Boyd) (1967 - 1976, divorce); Sonji Roi (1964 - 1966, divorce)

Children: Adopted with Yolanda: Assad; with Veronica: Laila (1977) and Hana (1976); with Kalilah: Muhammad Ibo (1972), Rasheeda and Jamilla (1970); Maryum (1968); Miya (mother and date of birth unknown); Khalilah (mother and date of birth unknown)

Other Facts: Nickname: The Greatest. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee", describes his style.

He became interested in boxing after reporting the theft of his bike to a policeman who gave boxing lessons at a local community center.

As an amateur boxer, Cassius Clay won 100 of 108 fights, including six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships.

Rhyming is one of his trademarks. "They all fall in the round I call", "rope-a-dope", "rumble in the jungle," and "thrilla in Manila."

His book, "GOAT: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali," weighs 75-pounds, and is covered in silk and Louis Vuitton leather. It has 792 pages, is 20-by-20-inches, and has 600,000 words and more than 3,000 images. GOAT stands for Greatest of All Time. Ten thousand were published. The first 1,000 were signed and sold for $7,500. The other 9,000 sold for $3,000 each.

Timeline: 1959 - Wins National Golden Gloves championship as a light heavyweight and qualifies for the US Olympic team.

1960 - Wins Olympic gold and National Golden Gloves championship, both for light heavyweight. Returns from the Olympics and turns pro.

February 25, 1964 - Defeats Sonny Liston, by KO in the seventh round, for the title of World Heavyweight Champion.

1964 - Converts and joins the Nation of Islam, changes his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.

May 25, 1965 - Rematch with Liston, wins again by KO in the first round.

April 28, 1967 - As a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, Ali refuses induction into the U.S. Army. The World Boxing Association strips him of his world title. New York and other states revoke his license to box.

June 20, 1967 - Convicted in federal court of violating Selective Service laws, sentenced to five years in prison, and fined $10,000.

October 26, 1970 - Ali's first professional fight in more than three years, defeats Jerry Quarry, by KO in the third round.

March 8, 1971 - Known as the "Fight of the Century," Ali and Joe Frazier split a $5 million purse at Madison Square Garden for Frazier's title. After 15 rounds, it's Ali's first professional loss.

June 28, 1971 - The U.S. Supreme Court reverses Ali's Selective Service violation conviction in a unanimous ruling.

July 26, 1971 - Defeats Jimmy Ellis, by KO in the twelfth round, for the NABF (North American Boxing Federation) heavyweight title.

September 20, 1972 - Defeats Floyd Patterson, by KO in the seventh round, retaining the NABF title.