About
Laila Ali is an American former undefeated professional boxer who holds the WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA female super middleweight titles, and the IWBF light heavyweight title. She is the daughter of world famous boxer Muhammad Ali.
Ali was born in Miami Beach, Florida. She graduated with a business degree and owned her own nail salon all before she ever began boxing. Ali was inspired to begin boxing at 18 when she saw a Christy Martin fight, and realized that women could be successful at the sport, too. Her father was initially unhappy about her decision to enter such a dangerous profession.
Ali emerged victorious from her first fight against April Fowler, a widely attended match due to her celebrity status and the fact that it occurred a day prior to the first male-female professional fight ever sanctioned by the US state boxing commission. After eight wins in a row, Ali followed up with a fight against Jackie Frazier, Joe Frazier’s daughter. The match was the first main-event pay-per-view match between two women, and Ali won in 8 rounds.
Ali began gathering crowns with her 2002 knockout of Suzette Taylor, which won her the IBA title. She added the WIBA and IWBF belts that same year with an eight-round TKO win over Valerie Mahfood, her division’s other world champion. In 2003, Ali beat Christy Martin, her original inspiration, by a knockout in four rounds. Ali’s wins continued to roll in with a victory against Gwendolyn O’Neil for the IWBF Light Heavyweight title, and another against Erin Toughill for the World Boxing Council title. Ali’s last professional fight was a rematch against O’Neil in South Africa; she won in the first round by technical knockout.
Following her boxing career, Ali made television appearances on The Jersey, the George Lopez show, and Real Husbands of Hollywood. She also came in third place on Dancing with the Stars alongside her dancing partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Ali made a smattering of other reality TV appearances in Stars Earn Stripes, The Biggest Loser, Fashion Police, Celebrity Wife Swap, and Chopped: All Stars, where she made it to the final round. In 2013 she started as the host on All In with Laila Ali. Ali is also a published author, co-writing Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power with David Ritz. She is a well-known public speaker as well, regularly booked for corporate entertainment events.
