This page details awards, honors, achievements, and accolades pertaining to Muhammad Ali.
The following awards without a reference can be found here at the official Ali Center website.
Titles in boxing
Major world titles NYSAC heavyweight champion 4× WBA heavyweight champion 2× WBC heavyweight champion
Other world titles The Ring magazine titles 3× The Ring heavyweight champion
Lineal titles 3× Lineal heavyweight champion
Undisputed titles 3× Undisputed heavyweight champion
Regional titles 3× NABF heavyweight champion
Honorary titles WBA Legend of Boxing WBC King of Boxing WBC Diamond champion Hickok Belt
Amateur titles Olympic light heavyweight champion (gold medal, 1960) U.S. Olympic Trials light heavyweight champion 2× AAU national champion 2× National Golden Gloves champion 6× Kentucky Golden Gloves champion 2× Chicago Golden Gloves light heavyweight champion Tomorrow's Champions WAVE-TV Division Winner
Media rankings #2 on the Los Angeles Times Top 10 Athletes of All Time: 1995 #1 on The Ring magazine's Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 1998 #1 on The Ring magazine's Greatest Fighters of the 20th Century: 1999 #1 on Sports Illustrated's Top 25 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century: 1999 #1 on Sports Illustrated's Top 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century from Kentucky: 1999 #3 on ESPN's Top 100 North American Athletes of the 20th Century: 1999-2000 #2 on ESPN's Top 50 Greatest Fighters of All Time: 2007 #1 on Sports Illustrated's Top 10 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 2009 #1 on Yahoo Sports' Top 100 Most Influential People in Boxing History: 2010 #3 on The Harris Poll's Greatest Athletes of All Time: 2015 #4 on Bleacher Report's Top 50 Pound-for-Pound Boxers of All Time: 2018 #1 on Bleacher Report's Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 2018 #2 on Bleacher Report's Top 10 Boxers of All Time: 2018 #1 on Top Rank's Greatest Boxers of All Time: 2024 #2 on GiveMeSport's Top 50 Greatest Athletes of All Time: 2024 #2 on ClutchPoints' Top 25 Greatest Boxers of All Time: 2024 #1 on GiveMeSport's Top 10 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 2024 #1 on BetMGM's World's Top 10 Boxers of All Time: 2025 #2 on Yardbarker's Top 25 Greatest Pound-for-Pound Boxers of All Time: 2025 #1 on Talksport's Top 20 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 2025
Boxing awards Kentucky Golden Gloves Most Outstanding Fighter: 1957 Kentucky Golden Gloves Sportsmanship Award: 1959 2× National AAU Championships Most Outstanding Boxer: 1959, 1960 6× The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year: 1963, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978 6× The Ring magazine Fight of the Year: 1963, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1978 5× ESPN American Athlete of the Year: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1975 3× Sugar Ray Robinson Award: 1965, 1974, 1975 Sport Magazine Top Performer in Boxing: 1965 British Boxing Writers Club Unbeaten Heavyweight Champion of the World Trophy: 1966 BBBofC Championship of the World Trophy: 1966 (2×) The Ring magazine Fighter of the Decade: 1960s 6× The Ring magazine Round of the Year: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978 4× Milliyet Sports Awards World Athlete of the Year: 1971, 1975, 1976, 1979 3× BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year: 1973, 1974, 1978 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1974 Associated Press Athlete of the Year: 1974 Hickok Belt (Professional Athlete of the Year): 1974 United Press International Athlete of the Year Award: 1974 ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year: 1974 Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Athlete of the Year: 1974 The President's Trophy (Philippines): 1975 Gillette Cavalcade of Champions Best Male Pro Athlete in Boxing: 1975 "Greater than the Greatest" Champion Trophy: 1977 The Victor Award: 1977 Omnibus House Group Fighter of the Decade: 1978 El Gráfico Trophy: 1979 The Ladbroke Group "The Greatest of Them All" Trophy: 1979 Birmingham Post and Mail Trophy: 1983 Boxing Writers Association of America Barney Nagler Award: 1984 The Rocky Marciano Award: 1984 World Boxing Association Long and Meritorious Service: 1985 The Miami Project Great Sports Legend Award: 1986 All Star Pro Sports Award Living Legend in Boxing: 1990 Academy of Victor Sports Award "Best in Boxing": 1991 World Boxing Association Legend of Boxing: 1992 NBC Legend to Legend Night Award: 1993 Sports Illustrated's Most Influential Sports Figure: 1994 Replacement Olympic Gold Medal: 1996 Coca-Cola Sports Personality of the Year Award: 1998 GQ magazine Athlete of the Century: 1998 USA Today Athlete of the Century: 1999 Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame Athlete of the Century: 1999 BBC Sports Personality of the Century: 1999 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century: 1999 World Sports Awards Athlete of the Century (martial arts category): 1999 National Academy of Sports Editors Athlete of the Century: 1999 Associated Press Heavyweight Fighter of the Century: 1999 The Greatest Award: 1999 Louisvillian of the Century: 1999 Kentucky Athlete of the Century: 2000 Kentucky Legislature Greatest Athlete of All Time: 2000 MTV King of the Ring Award: 2000 Phenomenal Athlete and the Greatest Heavyweight Champion of the World History Maker Award: 2002 MARCA Legend Award (Boxing): 2010 World Boxing Council King of Boxing: 2012 International Sports Press Association Male Athlete of the Century (1924–2024): 2024
Hall of Fame inductions
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame: 1983 Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame: 1985 Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame: 1986 World Boxing Hall of Fame: 1986 The Ring magazine Hall of Fame: 1987 International Boxing Hall of Fame: 1990 Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame: 1992 Northeastern University Center for the Study of Sport in Society Hall of Fame: 1994 NCAS Hall of Fame: 2000 National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame: 2001 Hollywood Walk of Fame: 2002 World Boxing Council Hall of Fame: 2008 Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas: 2013 The Happiness Hall of Fame: 2015 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame: 2015 California Boxing Hall of Fame: 2016 USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame: 2017 National Boxing Hall of Fame: 2018 United States Athletics Hall of Fame: 2023 Miami Beach Hall of Fame: 2023 WWE Hall of Fame: 2024
Awards outside of boxing
Ambassador of Goodwill Citation: 1964 2× Grammy Award Nominee: 1964, 1976 Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Award: 1970 Alpha Phi Alpha's Alpha Award of Merit: 1971 Beta Theta Lambda Religious Freedom Award: 1971 San Diego Schools Project Follow Through Award: 1973 Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Bill Duncan/Ed Pollock Memorial Award: 1974 Ortañez University Leadership Award: 1975 Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels: 1976 NAMIC-NY Honors Ali Award: 1977 Kentucky Governor's Distinguished Service Award: 1978 NAACP Award for Contributions to Race and Humanity: 1978 Summer Olympics Torch Relay: 1984 LA Marathon Gratitude Award: 1985 Ellis Island Medal of Honor: 1986 Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award: 1986 LIFE Magazine Award: 1987 Hennessy Cognac Pinnacle of Excellence Award: 1988 Spirit of America Award: 1988 ION Pictures Award: 1989 Islamic Society of East Bay Outstanding Example Award: 1989 American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Freedom of Speech Memorial Award: 1992 Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular Lifetime Achievement Award: 1992 Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Lifetime Achievement Award: 1992 CORE Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Award: 1992 World Boxing Council Lifetime Achievement Award: 1993 The Peace Abbey Foundation Courage of Conscience Award: 1994 Annual Trumpet Award: 1994 Parkinson's Disease Foundation Award: 1995 Islamic Chamber of Commerce Tribute to Excellence Award: 1995 Islamic Information Service Outreach Award: 1995 The Classic: The Black Coaches Association Award: 1995 Sports Image Award for Lifetime Achievement: 1995 Harold Washington Award: 1995 16th Annual National CableACE Winner: 1995 Overcoming Obstacles Lifetime Achievement Award: 1995 Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation International Inspiration Award: 1996 Sales and Marketing Executives Award: 1996 SportsChannel KIDZWIN Person of the Year: 1996 Summer Olympics Final Torchbearer: 1996 Decade of the Brain Award: 1996 Arthur Ashe Courage Award: 1997 First International Friendship Award: 1997 Haviva Reik Peace Award: 1997 National Urban League Humanitarian Award: 1997 Essence Living Legend Award: 1997 The Ring magazine Lifetime Achievement Award: 1997 Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago Imam W.D. Mohammed Award: 1998 Amnesty International USA Media Spotlight Lifetime Achievement Award: 1998 Community and Economic Development Corporation Award: 1998 Ellis Island American Legend Award: 1998 Phoenix Foundation Champion of Children Award: 1998 Die 1 Ersten Deutschlands Sportler Award: 1998 Legacy of Leadership Award: 1998 Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award: 1998 Generous Support Given to Pembroke Pines Award: 1998 "For the Love of Kids" Child Advocacy Award: 1998 United Nations Messenger of Peace: 1998 GQ Man of the Year for Courage: 1998 Huesped Distinguido Award: 1998-2001 Brotherhood Crusade 25th Anniversary Honoree Award: 1999 Best Buddies International Spirit of Leadership Award: 1999 International Ambassador of Jubilee 2000: 1999 Morehouse College Candle for Lifetime Achievement: 1999 TIME 100: The Most Important People of the Century: 1999 Brit Awards Freddie Mercury Award: 1999 TransAfrica Forum Global Statesman Award: 2000 ALS Association Lou Gehrig Sports Award: 2000 NIAF One America Award: 2000 Presidential Citizens Medal: 2001 The Beamonesque Lifetime Achievement Award: 2001 UCP Humanitarian Award: 2001 Service to America Leadership Award: 2001 The National Basketball Wives Association's "Touching A Life" Award: 2002 Hannah Neil World of Children Award: 2002 Critic's Choice Awards Freedom Award: 2002 National FFA Reflections Award: 2002 Matthew T. Robinson Award of Courage: 2002 Mercedes-Benz DesignCure Benefit Award of Courage: 2002 In Person For "The Greatest Good" Medal: 2002 Washington DC Honors America's Heroes of Freedom Award: 2002 UNA-USA Global Leadership Award: 2002 BET Humanitarian Award: 2002 Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Book of Life Award: 2002 Bulldog Award: 2003 National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement Award: 2003 Pittsburgh Chapter of National Parkinson’s Foundation Award: 2003 Lifting Up the World With a Oneness-Heart Award: 2003 Golden Karma Award: 2003 Coca-Cola Circle City Classic Major Taylor Award: 2003 National Constitution Center Award: 2003 ACLU Muhammad Ali Champion of Liberty Award: 2003 Afghanistan World Foundation Freedom Award: 2003 Bambi Millenium Award: 2003 CCAI National Angels in Adoption Award: 2003 Compton Community College International Humanitarian and Civil Rights Award: 2004 AAI Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Lifetime Achievement Award: 2004 Bridge Builder of the Year: 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2005 Otto Hahn Peace Medal: 2005 Search for Common Ground Lifetime Achievement Award: 2005 Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Louis E. Martin Great American Award: 2006 Spirit of Crazy Horse Award: 2006 World Economic Forum C-100 Award: 2006 CSHL Double Helix Medal Honoree: 2006 Boxing Writers Association of America John McCain-Bill Crawford Courage Award: 2006 ECOWAS Living Legend Award: 2007 Ashley Montagu Peace Award: 2007 California African American Museum Lifetime Achievement Award: 2008 Kentucky Society of Washington Bluegrass Ball Award of Recognition: 2009 Down Syndrome of Louisville Ralph Beard Humanitarian Award: 2009 MLB Beacon of Change Award (2009) Abraham Lincoln Society Kentucky Historical Society Award: 2009 American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Six Star Diamond Award: 2009 NAACP President's Award: 2009 Honorary Freeman of Ennis, County Clare, Ireland: 2009 Legacy of Firsts Legend Award: 2010 Gheens Institute for Innovation Award: 2010 Harold Pump Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award: 2010 Life Changing Lives Lifetime Achievement Award: 2011