Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Ali was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics and turned professional later that year. He became a Muslim after 1961. He won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset on February 25, 1964, at age 22. On March 6, 1964, he announced that he no longer would be known as Cassius Clay but as Muhammad Ali. In 1966, Ali refused to be drafted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War. He was found guilty of draft evasion so he faced 5 years in prison and was stripped of his boxing titles. He stayed out of prison as he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, but he had not fought for nearly four years and lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation, and he was a very high-profile figure of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement and throughout his career. As a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam (NOI). He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam, and supporting racial integration like his former mentor Malcolm X. Ali was a leading heavyweight boxer of the 20th century, and he remains the only three-time lineal champion of that division. His joint records of beating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight title and winning 14 unified title bouts stood for 35 years. He is the only fighter to have been ranked as the world's best heavyweight by BoxRec twelve times. He has been ranked among BoxRec's ten best heavyweights seventeen times, the third most in history. He won 8 fights that were rated by BoxRec as 5-Star, the third most in the history of the heavyweight division. Ali is the only boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times. He has been ranked the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, and as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC, and the third greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN SportsCentury. He was involved in several historic boxing matches and feuds, most notably his fights with Joe Frazier, such as the Fight of the Century and the Thrilla in Manila, and his fight with George Foreman, known as The Rumble in the Jungle, which has been called "arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th century" and was watched by a record estimated television audience of 1 billion viewers worldwide, becoming the world's most-watched live television broadcast at the time. Ali thrived in the spotlight at a time when many fighters let their managers do the talking, and he was often provocative and outlandish. He was known for trash-talking, and often free-styled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, anticipating elements of hip hop.
A short kid from a Canadian army base becomes the international pop culture darling of the...
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Da 5 Bloods
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Four African-American Vietnam veterans return to Vietnam. They are in search of the remains of...
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Untold: Deal with the Devil
as Self - Professional Boxer (archive footage)Christy Martin broke boundaries and noses as she rose in the boxing world, but her public...
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Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)An ambitious and wide-ranging documentary exploring Andre’s upbringing in France, his celebrated...
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Pelé
as Self (archive Footage)Against the backdrop of a turbulent era in Brazil, this documentary captures Pelé's...
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Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
as SelfFueled by a raging libido, Wild Turkey, and superhuman doses of drugs, Thompson was a true "free...
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Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
as Self (archive footage)Take a stroll down Sesame Street and witness the birth of the most influential children's show...
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O.J.: Made in America
as Self (archive footage)A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the...
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McEnroe
as Self (archive Footage)Legendary "bad boy of tennis" John McEnroe finally tells his side of his storied career and...
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When We Were Kings
as SelfIt's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten...
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Tyson
as Self (archive footage)Director James Toback takes an unflinching, uncompromising look at the life of Mike...
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Stand
as Self (archive footage)Raw and unflinching examination of the courageous life of basketball star and social justice...
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Night of 100 Stars III
as SelfA celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy.
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Requiem for a Heavyweight
as Himself (as Cassius Clay)Mountain Rivera is a veteran heavyweight and near-champion who suddenly finds himself washed up...
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Be Water
as Self (archive footage)In 1971, after being rejected by Hollywood, Bruce Lee returned to his parents’ homeland of Hong...
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Black Is Beltza
as Self (voice) (archive footage)New York City, October 10, 1965. A group of wooden giant figures from Pamplona, representing...
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WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
as Self (archive footage)Walk the dark and hallowed path of he who cannot be buried. The Apocalyptic Warrior who has...
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Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
as SelfThe Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special was a 2001 New York City revue show by Michael...
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I Am Ali
as Self (archive footage)Unprecedented access to Muhammad Ali's personal archive of "audio journals" as well as...
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Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child
as Self (archive footage)Pro boxing sensation — and perennial troublemaker — Jake Paul shares his unlikely journey from...
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Facing Ali
as HimselfTen of Muhammad Ali's former rivals pay tribute to the three-time world heavyweight champion.
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Freedom Road
as Gideon JacksonEx-slave and former Union soldier Gideon Jackson represents other ex-slaves at the...
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WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as Muhammad AliThe best and most memorable matches from Hulk Hogan's career.
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Say Hey, Willie Mays!
as Self (archive footage)Follow Willie Mays’ life both on and off the field over five decades as he navigated the...
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Soul Power
as Self (archive footage)Soul Power is a 2008 documentary film about the Zaire 74 music festival in Kinshasa which...
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The Greatest
as Cassius Clay / Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali's life story up to the late 1970s, which includes his Olympic triumphs as Cassius...
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Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
as Himself (archive footage)Muhammad Ali’s historic Supreme Court battle from behind closed doors. When Ali was drafted into...
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Parkinson at 50
as Self (archive footage)Sir Michael Parkinson looks back over his 50 years as a broadcaster, revealing some tricks of...
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James Bond: The First 21 Years
as SelfA look back at the first 21 years of Britain's most successful film series.
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WWE Hall of Fame 2024
as Muhammad AliWWE Hall of Fame this year hosted in Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA on April 5, 2024.
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Black Power Salute
as Self (archive footage)A film about one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, the moment when the radical...
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Doin' Time
as HimselfDuke Jarrett is sent to jail at the John Dillinger prison. However, the prison looks more like a...
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Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
as Self (archive footage)Celebrated author and Nation magazine sports editor Dave Zirin tackles the myth that the NFL was...
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Malcolm X
as Self (archive footage)James Earl Jones narrates this fascinating and moving documentary about the life of the...
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Jack Paar: Smart Television
as SelfPBS documentary examining the work of Jack Paar.
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Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
as SelfFrom a chance meeting to a tragic fallout, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali's extraordinary bond...
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WrestleMania
as RefereeThe first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event taking place on March...
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The Real Rocky
as Self (archive footage)Chuck Wepner is a liquor salesman from Bayonne, N.J., who drives a Cadillac with “Champ” vanity...
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Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes
as Self (archive footage)The life and times of Muhammed Ali shown through the lens of his numerous appearances on The...
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TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of...
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The Trials of Muhammad Ali
as HimselfBrash boxer Cassius Clay burst into the American consciousness in the early 1960s, just ahead of...
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Africa Rising
as Self - Boxer (archive footage)How African artists have spread African culture all over the world, especially music, since the...
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WCW Halloween Havoc 1994
as Himself (Ringside)Halloween Havoc 1994 took place on October 23, 1994 from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit,...
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Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
as Self (archive footage)This artful and intimate meditation on the legendary storyteller examines her life, her works,...
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My Father Muhammad Ali
as Self (archive footage)The story of champion boxer Muhammad Ali through the eyes of his only biological son, Muhammad...
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Body and Soul
as HimselfA young man struggles to become a boxing champ, but success blinds him. It is only through the...
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Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
as HimselfFor the first time ever, WWE presents the Legends of Mid-South Wrestling. One of the 1980’s...
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Thrilla in Manila
as Himself (archive footage)On October 1, 1975, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali was in the ring with his arch...
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In Search of Greatness
as Self (archive footage)A cinematic journey into the secrets of genius as told through the greatest athletes of all...
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Les vendredis d'Apostrophes
as Self (archive footage)40 years of "Apostrophes". Hours and historical meetings, Pierre Assouline has composed an...
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Sticky: A (Self) Love Story
as Self"Sticky" is everything your mother was too embarrassed to tell you about masturbation, in one...
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Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
as SelfTYSON WINS W.B.C. CHAMPIONSHIP LAS VEGAS, Nev., Nov. 22— Mike Tyson made history tonight. The...
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Diana
as SelfDiana Ross' 1981 TV special featuring live concert footage from The Forum mixed with studio...
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James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
as Self (archive footage)On April 5, 1968, soul legend James Brown performed a concert in Boston that many say shielded...
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Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
as HimselfFrom neighborhood ciphers to the most notorious MC battles, "Freestyle: the Art of Rhyme"...
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Norman Mailer: The American
as SelfA provocateur, a rebel, a performer, and a true American, Norman Mailer never stopped giving...
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Champions Forever
as SelfNo other film has the sweeping review of Ali's greatest fights, the legendary fight footage, and...
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The Journey of the African-American Athlete
as Self (archive footage)Documentary feature exploring the rise of African-Americans to positions of greatness in...
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Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes
as SelfOn January 22, 1988, Holmes was lured out of retirement to challenge reigning Undisputed World...
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Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
as SelfUniversally accepted as a true icon of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali’s phenomenal achievements...
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Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World
as Himself"This is a kid who just said it. I'm the greatest - and he said it with poetry. And I don't mean...
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Mister Candid Camera
as Self (archive footage)The story of the life and career of comical genius Allen Funt, and his legacy as the mastermind...
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Cassius X: Becoming Ali
as Self (archive footage)Cassius X puts a period of often-overlooked history into the spotlight – the period when Cassius...
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The Kennedy Who Changed The World
as Self (archive footage)Bill Clinton, Nicole Scherzinger and members of the Kennedy family reveal how JFK's sister...
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a.k.a. Cassius Clay
as HimselfThe study of crazy brilliance and flamboyant sincerity. a.k.a. Cassius Clay presents a...
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City of Ali
as uncreditedCity of Ali is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of how the death of Muhammad...
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Ali's Dozen
as SelfAli's Dozen profiles the 12 rounds that defined his genius, showcasing Ali the boxer and by...
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Earnie Shavers
as uncreditedConsidered one of the hardest-hitting heavyweight boxers of all time, Earnie Shavers took on all...
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Money Talks
as SelfFrom Allen Funt, the creator of TV's "Candid Camera." The hidden camera is pointed at people...
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Funny Girl to Funny Lady
as SelfA benefit concert for the Special Olympics and an opportunity to promote Streisand's upcoming...
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The Last Round: Chuvalo vs. Ali
as HimselfGet a ringside seat for one of the most unforgettable fights in the history of boxing with this...
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Kings of The Ring - History of Heavyweight Boxing 1919-1990
as Himself (Archival Footage)The BBC produced “Kings of The Ring – History of Heavyweight Boxing 1919-1990” celebrates...
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Ali's Comeback: The Untold Story
as Self (archive footage)An unusual group of people who came together in the most unlikely location to make it possible...
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Sugar Ray Robinson: The Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion
as HimselfThis sports documentary tells the remarkable story of the man voted the greatest boxer in...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III
as SelfMuhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier lll, billed as the "Thrilla in Manila", was the third and final...
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The Fighters
as SelfBehind-the-scenes documentary chronicling the Fight of the Century between Joe Frazier and...
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Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Fight Of The Century or simply The Fight, was a...
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Tribute to Chuck Wepner: The Legacy and Retirement of the Real Rocky Balboa
as Self (archive footage)Legendary veteran American boxer Chuck Wepner receives a message from his wife Linda, notifying...
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Muhammad and Larry
as HimselfIn October of 1980 Muhammad Ali was preparing to fight for an unprecedented fourth heavyweight...
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Ali the Man: Ali the Fighter
as SelfAli the Fighter was made in 1975, when the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight was still fresh in...
Movie pageBoxing's Greatest Champions
as uncreditedBoxing Writers of America select the best fighters of all time in each weight division, leading...
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The Best of ABC's Wide World of Sports: The 60's
as SelfABC's Wide World of Sports first started spanning the globe in 1960, and a generation of sports...
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Muhammad and Larry
as uncreditedThrough the poetic lens of visionary filmmakers Albert and David Maysles, Muhammad and Larry...
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The Fight
as HimselfIn 1971, maverick filmmaker William Greaves trained his cameras on both Muhammad Ali and his...
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Muhammad Ali The Whole Story
as SelfMuhammad Ali. He is known as the most thrilling athlete of all time... he is known as The...
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George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali
as SelfGeorge Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Rumble in the Jungle, was a heavyweight...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston I
as SelfThe 32 year old Liston defended his title against the 22 year old Clay on February 25, 1964, in...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II
as SelfBecause of the unexpected ending of the first bout, the World Boxing Council ordered a rematch,...
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Cassius le grand
as uncreditedPortrait of American boxer Cassius Clay.
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The King of Miami Beach
as uncreditedA look back at boxer Jeff Sims, an ex-convict famous for busting Muhammad Ali's lip in a...
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Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs!
as HimselfPreviously unseen footage, seeing and hearing the champions interviewed and talking to each...
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Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston
as Self (archive footage)Overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds that life threw his way, Liston became heavyweight...
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Naked Sport: Welcome to the Sewer
as SelfProduced by PBS in 1992, this documentary explores the darker side of boxing. It follows the...
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Muhammad Ali: Fighting Spirit
as himselfBorn Cassius Marcellus Clay Jnr in 1942, Muhammad Ali changed his name when he converted to...
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Ron Lyle
as Self (archive footage)Ron Lyle A look back at Ron Lyle, a convicted murderer who upon his release from prison, was...
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Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
as uncreditedThis video traces the life and career of Muhammad Ali, the man who was born to fight. He started...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick
as SelfMuhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick, billed as "Drama in Bahama", was a ten-round boxing match that...
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Leon Spinks vs Muhammad Ali II
as uncreditedLeon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II, was a professional boxing match contested on September 15,...
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Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali
as SelfLarry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as "The Last Hurrah!", was a professional boxing bout...
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B.B. King: Live In Africa '74
as SelfIn 1974, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held their heavyweight title fight in Zaire, billing it...
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Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
as Self (Archival Footage)Hear from the people who knew him best, from experts of the world of boxing, relive the...
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Rumble in the Jungle
as SelfTake a trip back to Zaire to relive one of the most historic chapters in boxing history, where...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II
as SelfAli vs. Frazier II was a boxing fight, the second of three bouts between Muhammad Ali and Joe...
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Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami
as HimselfDocumentary chronicles the many ways in which the city of Miami helped transform little-known...
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When Ali Met Cathal
as Muhammad AliIn advance of his fight with Al ‘Blue’ Lewis at Croke Park in Dublin, Cathal O’Shannon...
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The Champ and the King
as Self (archive footage)On February 14, 1973 Elvis presented Muhammad Ali with an 'Elvis Style' robe emblazoned with the...
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Thrilla in Manilla
as SelfThe 'Thrilla in Manila' was the third and final epic contest between the irrepressible...
Movie pageCassius Clay vs. Doug Jones
as SelfCassius Clay (soon Muhammad Ali) and Doug Jones fought a ten-round boxing match at Madison...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson I
as SelfMuhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson I took place on November 22, 1965 for the WBC/Ring/lineal world...
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Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II
as SelfMuhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II was a boxing event that took place on September 20, 1972 for...
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The Mike Douglas Show
as SelfThe Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as SelfThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight...
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Touched by an Angel
as SelfMonica, an angel, is tasked with bringing guidance and messages from God to various people who...
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The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - GuestThe Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various...
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The Merv Griffin Show
as SelfThe Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran...
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What's My Line?
as Self - Mystery GuestFour panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...
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Bambi Awards
as Self (archive footage)The Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented...
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Apostrophes
as SelfApostrophes was a live, weekly, literary, prime-time, talk show on French television created and...
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Shut Up and Dribble
as Self (archive footage)An inside look at the changing role of athletes in our fraught cultural and political...
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Bill Russell: Legend
as Self (archive footage)Winningest NBA champion and civil rights icon Bill Russell builds a larger-than-life legacy on...
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O.J.: Made in America
as Self (archive footage)The rise and fall of American football star, O.J. Simpson, from his days growing up in Los...
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Explained
as Self (archive footage)This documentary series, made in partnership with Vox, explain some of the world's current...
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70 Years of Youth Revolt
as Self (archive footage)A look back at the social movements, revolts and youth subcultures from the post-war period to...
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1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
as Self (archive footage)An immersive, deep-dive docuseries rich with archival footage and interviews that explores the...
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Muhammad Ali
as Self (archive footage)Muhammad Ali brings to life the iconic heavyweight boxing champion who became an inspiration to...
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What's My Name | Muhammad Ali
as Self (archive footage)Explore Ali’s challenges, confrontations, comebacks and triumphs through recordings of his own...
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A Life in Ten Pictures
as Self (archive footage)Extraordinary lives revealed through a handful of images - both famous and private - and by...
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