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Round One: The Greatest (1942-1964)

Season 1 Episode 1 | 2hr 09m 25s

Boxer Cassius Clay rises up the amateur ranks to win gold at the 1960 Olympics. He turns professional, sharpening his boxing skills and honing his genius for self-promotion. In 1964, he upsets Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion.

Aired: 09/18/21 | Expires: 02/28/22
Corporate funding for MUHAMMAD ALI was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by David M. Rubenstein. Major funding was also provided by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by The Better Angels Society and by its members Alan and Marcia Docter; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tudor Jones; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Gilchrist and Amy Berg; The Brooke Brown Barzun Philanthropic Foundation, The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation and The Augusta Brown Holland Philanthropic Foundation; Perry and Donna Golkin; John and Leslie McQuown; John and Catherine Debs; Fred and Donna Seigel; Susan and John Wieland; Stuart and Joanna Brown; Diane and Hal Brierley; Fiddlehead Fund; Rocco and Debby Landesman; McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Mauree Jane and Mark Perry; and Donna and Richard Strong.
Extras
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier prepare for their third fight, the Thrilla in Manila.
Upon retiring from boxing, Ali was forced to confront his deteriorating health.
Muhammad Ali shocks the world by defeating George Foreman and becomes world famous.
In a shocking decision, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned Ali's conviction.
Muhammad Ali returns from exile and twice faces his greatest rival, Joe Frazier.
Muhammad Ali's devotion to Islam grows, and in 1989 he makes a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Muhammad Ali arrives to praise in Kinshasa where he would soon fight George Foreman.
Elijah Muhammad offers Cassius a new name to secure his allegiance to the Nation of Islam.
Muhammad Ali takes on Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
In 1966, Muhammad Ali met 16-year-old Belinda Boyd at a Nation of Islam bakery.
Muhammad Ali shocks the world by defeating George Foreman and becomes world famous.
Muhammad Ali returns from exile and twice faces his greatest rival, Joe Frazier.
Muhammad Ali is banished from boxing for refusing induction into the Army.