SUMMARY
- Many boxers who converted into Islam show how boxing can serve as a vehicle for personal growth, cultural expression, and social change.
- Muhammad Ali became a global ambassador for Islam.
Boxing is a sport that dates back to ancient Greece. The renowned sport has seen some of the biggest athletes in the world in different eras, which went on to define different generations with their skills and antics. Numerous boxers grabbed the media and fan attention for their skills in the rings. However, many boxers also grabbed the spotlight for their religious backgrounds.
This list looks at some of the boxers and their religious backgrounds. The focus will be on the boxers who converted to Islam, irrespective of whether it happened before or after their boxing career. There are some world-class boxers here, including a few legendary ones that changed the sport forever.
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is a name that needs no introduction. The legendary boxer is often regarded as the greatest boxer of all time. He dominated the sport in the 1960s and 1970s and ended his boxing career with a record of 56-5. Ali was born in 1942 and was named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. by his parents, who used to live in Kentucky at the time.
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. converted to Islam at the age of 19 and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. The 2004 autobiography of the boxer revealed that the legendary boxer converted to Sunni Islam after being influenced by Warith Deen Muhammad, who was the former leader of the Nation of Islam.
Muhammed Ali on Fighting in a Holy War but No Other Wars pic.twitter.com/GOyrorkYDD
— GOATIVATION (@GOATIVATIONClip) February 8, 2024
Ali followed the religion perfectly during his life and even went on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 1972. The boxer was known for spreading the word of peace in America and other prominent countries of the world. The boxer was influential in helping the religion to repair its image following the 9/11 attacks in America. Muhammad Ali’s connection to Islam was an important part of his life after his boxing career.
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Matthew Saad Muhammad is an American boxer who was born in 1954 in Philadelphia, USA. The light heavyweight boxer was a big figure in American boxing in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is always remembered for being the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World for around 2.5 years. Saad Muhammad, retired from boxing with a record of 58 fights with 39 wins, 29 of which came via KO.
Matthew Saad Muhammad moved toward Islam in 1979. The year was monumental for the boxer as he defeated Marvin Johnson in April 1979 for the WBC’s world light heavyweight crown. The fight is remembered as one of the best fights of Saad Muhammad’s career. After the fight, the light heavyweight boxer converted to Islam and changed his name from Maxwell Antonio Loach to Matthew Saad Muhammad.
Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins is another legendary boxer who is known for his religious background. The American former professional boxer had a successful career that spanned 28 years. He retired with a record of 67 fights, 55 wins (32 Knockouts), and only eight losses.
Hopkins had a troubled childhood, which pushed him towards crime. At 17 years old, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison. However, Hopkins was released after five years and during those five years, he ignited his passion for boxing and changed his ways by converting to Islam in 1988.
Anthony Small
Anthony Small is a former British boxer who once held both the British and Commonwealth belts in his Light Middleweight weight class. He turned professional at the age of 23. He fought for six years from 2004 to 2010 and retired with a boxing record of 23 wins and two losses.
The British boxer converted to Islam at the age of 24. After he retires from boxing, the London-based boxer devotes his time to talking about an Islamic political ideology – Sharia. The former boxer has been a strong voice for Muslims in the UK and even appeared in a BBC Two documentary, Muslims Like Us, to discuss his beliefs and ideology as a whole.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson is another name on this list that needs no introduction. The American boxer is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time and is arguably the most controversial name on this list. Tyson was raised as a Catholic but converted to Islam in the early 1990s.
Tyson has previously stated that he converted to his religion before going to jail in 1992. There have been numerous reports surrounding Tyson and his faith. There were even false reports that the former boxer changed his name Malik Abdul Aziz after converting to Islam. However, Tyson has never used any other name apart from the one that his parents gave him.
MIKE TYSON – Islam ☝🏾🤍 pic.twitter.com/FmvVXxtPa4
— Halal Nation (@HalalNation_) February 5, 2023
Tyson retired in 2005 with a record of 50 wins and six losses. The American boxer recorded 44 wins via KO to cement himself as one of the best finishers in the boxing ring. Tyson’s relationship with Islam has not been the major focus of his image and personality in 2024.
Danny Williams
Danny Williams is a British boxer who has 89 fights in his boxing career. The Brixton boxer has an average record of 55 wins and 33 losses. However, he recorded 42 wins via knockout. The most famous knockout of Williams’ career came in 2004 when he knocked out Mike Tyson in a major upset.
Williams was first drawn by Islam when he traveled to Turkey and heard Azaan which is the Islamic call to prayer. The British boxer has spoken about how the way of life of Islam attracted him to it. The British boxer converted to Islam in 2000 and continued to follow the religion even after 23 years.
Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny Bill Williams is a heavyweight boxer from New Zealand who made his debut in boxing in 2009. The heavyweight boxer used to play in a professional rugby league and even represented his country in the Rugby World Cup. He is among a small list of people who have won the Rugby World Cup twice.
‘I chased girls, drank alcohol, and it only gave me emptiness. My soul was yearning for something… I found Allah, I found Islam.’
– Sonny Bill Williams pic.twitter.com/5HkVsrXGLo— muslim daily (@muslimdaily_) November 15, 2019
Apart from boxing and his rugby career, Williams also made some headlines for his religion. The boxer converted to Islam in the same year when he started his boxing career. He continued to play rugby for this national side till 2013 and became the first Muslim player to represent New Zealand on the international stage in Rugby.
Celestino Caballero
Celestino Caballero is a former professional boxer from Panama who retired from the sport in 2014. He had a 16-year career and retired with a record of 37 wins and six losses. Out of these 37 wins, 24 came from knockouts. He was world champion in two weight classes.
Caballero’s religious background isn’t widely covered, but it is reported that he converted to Islam during his boxing career. The former champion even talked about his relationship with God after he won the WBA title in 2006 after defeating Somsak Sithchatchawal. Caballero in his post-match interview stated that he didn’t care about the remote location because of his faith in God.
Gervonta Davis
Gervonta Davis is another big name who has converted to Islam. The American boxer is only 29 years old and has an undefeated record in his boxing career. Tank has fought 29 times and won all 29 times. He won 27 fights out of these via knockout. Davis is known for his punching power and IQ but his religion also came into the front in 2023.
Davis converted to Islam at the end of 2023. The American boxer followed through the process in a ceremony at a local mosque in Maryland. The boxer also adopted a Muslim name: Abdul Wahid which means “the servant of the one.” It is unclear whether Davis will change his ring name also, but at present he hasn’t changed his legal name.