List of boxers who converted to Islam
Boxing is a sport that dates back to ancient Greece. This famous sport has seen some of the world’s greatest athletes in different eras, who have defined different generations with their skills and antics. Many boxers caught the attention of the media and fans for their skills in the ring. However, many boxers also made headlines because of their religious backgrounds.
This list takes a look at some boxers and their religious backgrounds. The focus will be on boxers who converted to Islam, whether before or after their boxing careers. There are some world-class boxers here, including some of the greatest boxers who changed the sport forever.
Mohammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is a name that needs no introduction. This great boxer is often considered the greatest boxer of all time. He dominated the sport in the 1960s and 1970s, ending 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 lived 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 boxer’s 2004 autobiography revealed that the legendary boxer converted to Sunni Islam under the influence of Warith Deen Muhammad, the former leader of the Nation of Islam.
Muhammad Ali is fighting in a holy war but not any other war pic.twitter.com/GOyrorkYDD
– Goativation (@GOATIVATIONClip) 8 February 2024
Ali strictly followed the religion during his life and even went on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 1972. The boxer was known for spreading the message of peace in America and other major countries of the world. Boxer was influential in helping to improve the image of religion in America following the 9/11 attacks. 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 born in 1954 in Philadelphia, United States. The light heavyweight boxer was a major figure in American boxing during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is always remembered for being the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion of the world for almost 2.5 years. Saad Muhammad retired from boxing with a record of 58 bouts with 39 wins, 29 of which came via knockout.
Mathew Saad Muhammad converted to Islam in 1979. This year was very important for the boxer as he defeated Marvin Johnson for the WBC world light heavyweight crown in April 1979. This 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 great boxer who is known for his religious background. The American former professional boxer had a successful career spanning 28 years. He retired with a record of 67 fights, 55 wins (32 by knockout) and only eight losses.
Hopkins had a difficult childhood, which pushed him towards crime. At the age of 17, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison. However, Hopkins was released after five years and during those five years, he rekindled his passion for boxing and changed his ways, 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 division. 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 retiring from boxing, the London-based boxer spends his time talking about the Islamic political ideology – Sharia. The former boxer has been a strong voice for Muslims in Britain and even appeared in a BBC Two documentary. Muslims like us, To discuss their beliefs and ideology as a whole.
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson is another name on this list that needs no introduction. The American boxer is considered 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 said that he converted to his religion before being jailed in 1992. There have been many reports about Tyson and his religion. There were also false reports that the former boxer had changed his name to Malik Abdul Aziz after converting to Islam. However, Tyson has never used any other name than the one given by his parents.
Mike Tyson – Islam ☝🏾🤍 pic.twitter.com/FmvVXxtPa4
– Halal Nation (@HalalNation_) 5 February 2023
Tyson retired in 2005 with a record of 50 wins and six losses. The American boxer registered 44 wins via KO to establish himself as one of the best finishers in the boxing ring. Tyson’s relationship with Islam has not been a major focus of his image and personality in 2024.
danny williams
Danny Williams is a British boxer who has fought 89 matches 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 attracted to Islam when he traveled to Turkey and heard the azan, the Islamic call to prayer. The British boxer has told how the lifestyle of Islam attracted him to it. The British boxer converted to Islam in 2000 and continues to practice the religion even after 23 years.
sonny bill williams
Sonny Bill Williams is a heavyweight boxer from New Zealand who made his boxing debut in 2009. The heavyweight boxer played in a professional rugby league and even represented his country at the Rugby World Cup. He joins a short list of people who have won the Rugby World Cup twice.
‘I chased girls, drank and it just made me feel empty. My soul was yearning for something… I found Allah, I found Islam.
– Sonny Bill Williams pic.twitter.com/5HkVsrXGLo– Muslim Daily (@muslimdaily_) 15 November 2019
Apart from boxing and his rugby career, Williams also made some headlines for his religion. The boxer converted to Islam the same year he began his boxing career. He continued to play rugby for this national team until 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. Of these 37 wins, 24 came by knockout. He was world champion in two weight classes.
Caballero’s religious background has not been widely covered, but it has been reported that he converted to Islam during his boxing career. The former champion also spoke about his relationship with God after winning the WBA title by defeating Somsak Sitharaman in 2006. Caballero said in his post-match interview that he was not concerned 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. The tank has fought 29 battles and won all 29 times. Of these, he won 27 fights by knockout. Davis is known for his punching power and IQ but in 2023, his religion also came to the fore.
Davis converted to Islam in late 2023. The American boxer underwent the procedure in a ceremony at a local mosque in Maryland. The boxer also adopted a Muslim name: Abdul Wahid which means “servant of the one.” It is unclear whether Davis will also change his ring name, but at this time he has not changed his legal name.
