Laila Ali

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Laila Ali began boxing at age 18 after watching a Christy Martin fight. She announced her decision on *Good Morning America* in an interview with Diane Sawyer. Her father, Muhammad Ali, was unhappy about her entering such a dangerous profession and opposed women boxing due to his Muslim faith. In her first match on October 8, 1999, the 5-foot-10-inch, 166-pound, 21-year-old Ali knocked out April Fowler — described by WomenBoxing.com as an 'out-of-shape novice' — in the first round. She won her second match by TKO with only 3 seconds left. Ali captured nine wins in a row, leading to a highly anticipated fight with Jacqui Frazier-Lyde on June 8, 2001, dubbed 'Ali/Frazier IV' in allusion to their fathers' famous fight trilogy. Ali won by majority judges' decision in eight rounds (79–73, 77–75, 76–76), though she suffered a fractured left collarbone and a bloodied nose. This was the first main-event pay-per-view match between two women. She later defeated Christy Martin by knockout in four rounds on August 23, 2003. Ali won the WBC title on June 11, 2005, becoming the second woman to win a WBC title (Jackie Nava was the first). Her final professional fight was on February 2, 2007, a first-round TKO of Gwendolyn O'Neil in South Africa.

Reader's Guide

Laila Ali's significance lies in her undefeated professional boxing record and her role in elevating women's boxing to mainstream attention. As the daughter of Muhammad Ali, she drew immense media interest from her debut, which occurred on the eve of what was supposed to be the first male-female professional bout ever sanctioned by a US state boxing commission. Her fights, including the pay-per-view main event against Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, helped legitimize women's boxing as a commercial and competitive sport. Ali held multiple world titles across two weight classes and was recognized by many as one of the greatest female boxers. After retiring, she transitioned to television, co-hosting the revival of *American Gladiators* alongside Hulk Hogan and appearing on *Dancing with the Stars* in season four, where she placed third with professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Her career demonstrated that a female boxer could achieve both athletic excellence and broad popular appeal.

Did You Know?

• Laila Ali was a manicurist at age 16 and owned her own nail salon before she began boxing.
• Her first match on October 8, 1999, occurred on the eve of what was supposed to be the first male-female professional bout ever sanctioned by a US state boxing commission.
• Ali's fight with Jacqui Frazier-Lyde was the first main-event pay-per-view match between two women.
• She became the second woman to win a WBC title, after Jackie Nava.
• Muhammad Ali attended her December 17, 2005 fight in Berlin and kissed his daughter after her TKO win.