Muhammad Ali that year, before converting to Islam after 1961. At age 22, in 1964, he won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset. He then changed his name from Cassius Clay, which he called his "slave name", to Muhammad Ali. He set an example of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1966, two years after winning the heavyweight title, Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs, and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Mairoon Ali and Lonsdale Bradshaw and grew up in Belmont with her parents and seven siblings. She attended Tranquility Government Primary School and later St. Francois Girls' College. She went on to teach at Holy Name Convent before becoming involved in the theatre. Upon marrying at age 18, she changed her name from Christina Bradshaw to Mairoon Ali and had her first child Aka Ali. Her second marriage was to calypsonian Eddie Yearwood. With Yearwood she had her second child, soca artist Olatunji Yearwood. Ali developed as an actress, both on television and in local plays, performing with top actor/producers like Raymond