Laila Amaria Ali is an American retired professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. She is the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. She boasts an undefeated record of 24 wins, with 21 by knockout. She secured multiple world titles, including the WIBA, IWBF, and WBC super middleweight titles, as well as the WIBA, IBA, and WBC light heavyweight titles. She is considered to be one of the greatest female boxers of all time.
If you are also a fan and admirer of this boxing legend and want to know more about her then this Laila Ali Biography is the perfect place for you. In this article we will be discussing her career, her achievements, her decision to retire, and many other interesting facts about her life. Read this article till the end to know all about Laila Ali.
Laila Ali Wiki
Laila Ali was born on 30th December 1977 (Age: 46 years old). She was born in Miami Beach, Florida, USA and Ali grew up in Los Angeles, California. She has many nicknames such as “She Bee Stingin”, Pretty Baby and Madame Butterfly. Although she was raised with the Islamic faith, she chose to leave and not follow it, even after objections from his father.
Biography
Full Name | Laila Amaria Ali |
Nick Name | She Bee Stingin, Madame Butterfly, Pretty Baby |
Profession | Boxer |
Age | 46 years old |
Date of Birth | 30th December 1977 |
Mother Tongue | English |
Religion | Islam |
Nationality | American |
Zodiac/Sun Sign | Capricorn |
Birthplace | Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
HomeTown | Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Current Address | Los Angeles, CA |
Team | Team Ali |
Laila Ali Education, Qualification
After completing her high school education, Laila Ali attended Santa Monica College in California, where she received a business degree.
School | Yet to Update |
College | Santa Monica College, California |
Degree/Graduation | Business Degree |
Relationship Status (Husband, Boyfriend, Affairs)
Ali was married to boxer Johnny “Yahya” McClain from 2000 to 2005. They divorced in 2005.
Laila Ali is married to former NFL player Curtis Conway. They were married on July 23, 2007, in Los Angeles, California. They have two children together, a son named Curtis Muhammad Conway, born in 2010, and a daughter named Sydney Jurldine Conway, born in 2011.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Female Boxers In The World
Laila Ali’s Family, Siblings
Laila Ali is the daughter of one of the most iconic figures in the history of boxing, Muhammad Ali, and his third wife, Veronica Porché Ali.
Laila’s father, Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, was not only a legendary heavyweight boxer but also a cultural and social icon. He was known for his charisma, boxing prowess, and his strong stance against racial inequality and the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali’s accomplishments in the boxing world, including winning the heavyweight title three times, have solidified his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Laila Ali was deeply influenced by her father’s dedication to boxing and his commitment to social justice.
Ali’s mother, Veronica Porché Ali, is a former model and actress. She is also a successful businesswoman. Veronica Porché Ali has always been there to support Laila in everything she has done.
Laila Ali is the youngest of Muhammad Ali’s nine children. Ali has seven siblings: Maryum Ali, Rasheda Ali, Muhammad Ali Jr., Hana Ali, Jamillah Ali, Khalilah Ali, and Miya Ali.
Parent’s Name | Father: Muhammad Ali Mother: Veronica Porché |
Siblings/Cousins | Sisters: Hana Ali, Jamillah Ali (step), Rasheda Ali (step), Miya Ali (step), Maryum Ali (step), Khaliah Ali (step) Brother: Asaad Amin (step), Muhammad Ali Jr (step) |
Relationship Status | Married |
Husband/Boyfriend | Johnny McClain (1999-2005), Curtis Conway, American Footballer (2005-present) |
Children | Daughter: Sydney J. Conway Son: Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr |
Laila Ali Height, Weight (Physical Appearance)
Height | In centimeters: 178 cm In meters: 1.78 m In Feet: 5’10” |
Reach | 179 cm (72 1⁄2 in) |
Weight | 72 Kgs, 159 Lbs |
Body Measurements | 35-28-37 |
Eye Color | Black |
Hair Color | Black |
Laila Ali Net Worth and Salary
Laila Ali’s Net Worth is around $10 Million.
Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $10 Million |
Salary (Approx.) | $2 Million |
Career
Laila Ali’s journey in professional boxing began at the age of 18 when she discovered women’s boxing, inspired by a Christy Martin fight. She publicly announced her decision to become a professional boxer in an interview on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer. However, her father, the legendary Muhammad Ali, was initially concerned about the dangers of the sport.
Debut Fight
Laila Ali made her professional boxing debut on October 8, 1999, at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. She faced April Fowler from Indiana and, despite being a novice, attracted significant attention due to her status as Muhammad Ali’s daughter. In her debut match, Laila Ali knocked out Fowler in the first round.
Early Victories and Media Attention
Ali continued to impress with her second match, securing a TKO win with only three seconds left on the clock against Shadina Pennybaker in Chester, West Virginia. She went on to secure nine consecutive wins, sparking interest from boxing fans eager to see her face off against other famous boxing daughters, such as George Foreman’s daughter, Freeda Foreman, and Joe Frazier’s daughter, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde.
Historic Fight: Ali vs. Frazier-Lyde
On June 8, 2001, Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, in a bout aptly named Ali/Frazier IV, met in the ring. Ali won the fight by a majority judges’ decision after eight rounds. Frazier-Lyde ended the match with a swollen eye, while Ali suffered a fractured left collarbone and a bloodied nose. This historic bout marked the first main-event pay-per-view match between two women.
Championship Success
After a year’s break, on June 7, 2002, Ali defeated Shirvelle Williams in a six-round decision. She secured the IBA title with a second-round knockout of Suzette Taylor on August 17, 2002, in Las Vegas. On November 8, 2002, Ali added the WIBA and IWBF belts to her collection with an eight-round TKO victory over Valerie Mahfood. A rematch with Mahfood in Los Angeles in 2003 saw Ali victorious by TKO in six rounds, despite suffering her first career cut on her right eyelid.
Continued Dominance
Laila Ali continued to assert her dominance in the boxing world, defeating notable opponents such as Christy Martin and Nikki Eplion. On July 30, 2004, she stopped Monica Nunez in her father’s hometown, Louisville, Kentucky, on the undercard of a fight in which Mike Tyson was surprisingly defeated.
Ali’s Last Professional Fight
Her last professional fight took place on February 2, 2007, in South Africa against Gwendolyn O’Neil. Ali won the match in the first round by technical knockout, ending her boxing career on a high note.
Laila Ali record
Total Fights | 24 |
Won | 24 |
Lost | 0 |
By Knockout | 21 |
Laila Ali Professional boxing record
Date | Location | Opponent | Record | Result |
8 Oct 99 | Turning Stone Resort Casino | April Fowler | 1-0 | Win |
11 Nov 99 | Mountaineer Casino | Shadina Pennybaker | 2-0 | Win |
10 Dec 99 | Cobo Center | Nicolyn Armstrong | 3-0 | Win |
7 Mar 00 | Windsor | Crystal Arcand | 4-0 | Win |
8 Apr 00 | Detroit | Karen Bill | 5-0 | Win |
22 Apr 00 | Guangzhou | Kristina King | 6-0 | Win |
15 Jun 00 | Universal City | Marjorie Jones | 7-0 | Win |
20 Oct 00 | Auburn Hills | Kendra Lenhart | 8-0 | Win |
2 Mar 01 | Verona | Christine Robinson | 9-0 | Win |
8 Jun 01 | Verona | Jacqui Frazier-Lyde | 10-0 | Win |
7 Jun 02 | Southaven | Shirvelle Williams | 11-0 | Win |
17 Aug 02 | Las Vegas | Suzette Taylor | 12-0 | Win |
8 Nov 02 | Las Vegas | Valerie Mahfood | 13-0 | Win |
14 Feb 03 | Louisville | Mary Ann Almager | 14-0 | Win |
21 Jun 03 | Los Angeles | Valerie Mahfood | 15-0 | Win |
23 Aug 03 | Biloxi | Christy Martin | 16-0 | Win |
17 Jul 04 | Bowie | Nikki Eplion | 17-0 | Win |
30 Jul 04 | Louisville | Monica Nunez | 18-0 | Win |
24 Sep 04 | Atlanta | Gwendolyn O’Neil | 19-0 | Win |
11 Feb 05 | Atlanta | Cassandra Geiggar | 20-0 | Win |
11 Jun 05 | Washington, D.C. | Erin Toughill | 21-0 | Win |
17 Dec 05 | Berlin | Åsa Sandell | 22-0 | Win |
11 Nov 06 | New York City | Shelley Burton | 23-0 | Win |
3 Feb 07 | Kempton Park | Gwendolyn O’Neil | 24-0 | Win |
Laila Ali’s Television Career
Laila Ali has also made a name for herself in the world of television. Her journey through television work spans several years and diverse roles. Let’s take a closer look at her television career, organized chronologically.
Early Television Appearances (2000-2004)
In the early 2000s, Laila Ali began her television journey with appearances on various shows. In 2000, she played herself in an episode of “The Jersey” titled “Bat Girl.” She continued to make appearances in 2002 on UPN sitcoms, “One on One” and “Girlfriends.” Notably, she also appeared in the music video “Deny” by Canadian hard rock band Default in a boxing role.
Dancing with the Stars (2007)
In mid-2007, Laila Ali stepped onto the dance floor as a participant in season four of the American version of “Dancing with the Stars.” Despite having no prior dancing experience, she and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, garnered praise from the judges. Their rumba performance even received the first “10” from judge Len Goodman. They ultimately finished third in the competition, with Apolo Anton Ohno and Joey Fatone emerging as the winners.
Also Read: Ann Wolfe Wiki, Boxing Record, Daughter, Net Worth, Age, Height
Hosting and Contributing (2008-2013)
In 2008, Ali ventured into hosting as she co-hosted the revival of “American Gladiators” alongside Hulk Hogan. Her hosting roles expanded further as she joined the CBS team as a contributing correspondent on “The Early Show.” In 2012, Ali co-hosted “Everyday Health” with Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca, a show that aired on ABC Saturday mornings and highlighted individuals living with health issues who aimed to inspire others. This venture, however, lasted for just one season.
Throughout this period, Ali also appeared in various episodes of different shows, such as “The N’s Student Body,” “Yo Gabba Gabba!,” “Love That Girl,” and “Stars Earn Stripes.”
Guest Appearances and Reality Shows (2013-2020)
From 2013 onwards, Laila Ali continued to be active in television. She made appearances on shows like “The Biggest Loser,” “Fashion Police,” and “Celebrity Wife Swap.” In 2014, she hosted “All In with Laila Ali,” a Saturday morning show on CBS. Later, she became the host of “Late Night Chef Fight” on the FYI network.
In 2019, Ali participated in the second season of “The Masked Singer” under the alias “Panda” and made a cameo appearance in the “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” episode “The Crown Jewel of Boxing” in 2020. She also appeared in the film “Falcon Rising.”
Home Made Simple and Beyond (2017-Present)
Since 2017, Laila Ali has been hosting the DIY series “Home Made Simple” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), showcasing her versatility and continued presence in the television industry.
Laila Ali Instagram, Twitter
@thereallailaali | |
@TheRealLailaAli |
Championships and accomplishments
- In 2012, Laila Ali received the AOCA Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award.
- Between 2005 and 2007, she held the WBC World Super Middleweight title, successfully defending it twice.
- From 2002 to 2007, Laila Ali held the WIBA World Super Middleweight title, defending it five times during her reign.
- In 2004, she achieved the IWBF Female Light Heavyweight title.
- Between 2002 and 2004, Laila Ali held and defended the IWBF Female Super Middleweight title twice.
- Also from 2002 to 2004, she held the IBA Female Super Middleweight title and successfully defended it four times during her tenure.
Some Interesting Facts About Laila Ali
- Laila Ali has encountered several legal issues, including incidents like taking her mother’s car without permission, shoplifting, and involvement in credit card fraud.
- In her boxing career, Ali has an impressive record of 24 fights, all of which she won, with 21 victories achieved by knockout (KO).
- Ali is the stepmother to Curtis Conway‘s three children, twin sons Cameron and Kelton (born in 1995), and daughter Leilani (born in 1999).
- During her younger years, her first job was at a McDonald’s restaurant in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
- One of her childhood celebrity crushes was Morris Chestnut.
- Hulk Hogan has credited Laila Ali with saving his life during a difficult period in 2007 when he was going through a divorce and dealing with his son’s near-fatal car accident. Ali’s concern and support helped him overcome depression and thoughts of suicide.
- In 2020, Laila Ali lent her voice to herself in an episode of “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” titled “The Crown Jewel of Boxing.”
- In 2019, Ali participated in the second season of “The Masked Singer” as the character “Panda.”
- She is the sister-in-law of professional mixed martial artist Kevin Casey, who is married to her sister Hana.
- Laila Ali retired from professional boxing in 2007.
- Since 2017, Ali has been hosting the DIY series “Home Made Simple” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
- Her decision to pursue a career in professional boxing was announced on the American morning TV show “Good Morning America.”
- When she won the WBC title, she became the second woman to achieve this after Jackie Nava.
- In 2002, Laila Ali co-authored a book with David Ritz titled “Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power.”
- In the same year, she made an appearance in a music video for the Canadian rock band Default, in their song “Deny.”
- On February 2, 2007, Laila Ali secured her victory in her final professional boxing match by defeating O’Neil.
- In 2007, she participated in the American dance television show “Dancing with the Stars,” where she was partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Their partnership received widespread praise from the judges.
FAQs
Laila Ali’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.
Muhammad Ali earned over $60 million from his boxing career.
Following Muhammad Ali’s passing, his estate was inherited by his wife, Lonnie Ali, and his children, but the distribution of his assets did not occur without controversy. Reportedly, each of his children received $6 million, while the remaining portion of his estate went to his wife, Lonnie Ali.
Ali’s daughter, Laila, continued the family tradition by pursuing a career in professional boxing, following in her father’s footsteps.