Muhammad Ali was important by being an African-American champion and not believing that people should go to war.  He was famous for his boxing career.  He was never intimidated to speak up about what he believed in.  He declined the draft for the Vietnam War.

Some characteristics of Ali was he was hardworking, outspoken, never gave up, and very proud of his race.  He started boxing at age twelve.  Then six weeks later he won his first fight.  When he was 18, he had won enough fights to make it to the Olympics and won a gold medal.

After the Olympics, he started professional boxing.  Four years later, he won the heavyweight belt in 1964.  In 1967 he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.  He turned Muslim because Islam better fit what he believed in.

The think I admire most about Ali is he fought while having a brain disease.  He was not afraid to still fight with it.  He was also not afraid to light the torch at the Olympics in 1996 while his disease was active.