A ‧ li, Muhammad /ɑːˈliː/ BrE AmE
(1942–) an American ↑ boxer who was the world HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION in 1964, 1974, and 1978, and is regarded as one of the greatest boxers ever. He changed his name from Cassius Clay when he became a Muslim in 1964, and he is known especially for saying ‘I am the greatest!’ and ‘I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee’. He now suffers from a serious illness, Parkinson’s disease.