5 Legendary boxers who changed their names for professional or religious reasons

Kid Chocolate
Kid Chocolate

#4. Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior to Muhammad Ali

Pre-Fight Talk
Pre-Fight Talk

Considered as the best heavyweight boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali was born in Kentucky as Cassius Marcellus Clay Junior. Ali grew up at a time when America was burning due to racial segregation which played a major role in his life. He defeated legendary boxers such as Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, and Sonny Liston to become the WBC heavyweight champion.

Clay met his spiritual mentor Malcolm X who brought him into the fold of Islam while fighting against racial discrimination. He then changed his name to Muhammad Ali (One worthy of high praise).

#5. Walker Smith Junior to Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar was born as Walker Smith Junior in Georgia. He was a welterweight and middleweight champion whose professional record stood at 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. Walker defeated Jake LaMotta, Henry Armstrong, and Sammy Angott to become the world champion.

He changed his name to Sugar Ray Robinson to bag his first fight as an amateur boxer in 1936. Muhammad Ali wanted him as a mentor when he was preparing for his world heavyweight championship bouts.

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