Muhammad Ali Marries 16-Year-Old Nation of Islam Member

The boxer's controversial union with Belinda Boyd

A look at the couple's relationship and its impact on Ali's life

In 1967, Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, married 16-year-old Nation of Islam member Belinda Boyd. The marriage was controversial at the time, and it would have a lasting impact on Ali's life.

Boyd was born in Chicago in 1951. She joined the Nation of Islam at a young age, and she was a devout follower of Elijah Muhammad, the group's leader. Ali met Boyd in 1967, and they were married a few months later. The marriage was not without its problems. Ali was a Sunni Muslim, and Boyd was a Shia Muslim. They also had different views on some of the Nation of Islam's teachings.

Despite these differences, the couple remained together for several years. They had four children together, and they seemed to be happy. However, the marriage began to unravel in the early 1970s. Ali began to question some of the Nation of Islam's teachings, and he eventually left the group. Boyd did not follow him, and the couple divorced in 1976.

The marriage between Ali and Boyd was a controversial one from the start. However, it also had a profound impact on Ali's life. The marriage helped to shape Ali's religious beliefs, and it also led to the birth of four of his children. Despite the problems they faced, the couple remained together for several years, and they seemed to be happy.