Laila Ali, born on December 30, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, is the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Over the course of her own boxing career, which spanned from 1999 to 2007, she carved out her own reputation as a formidable competitor, achieving a perfect 24-0 record. Outside of the ring, Ali has also found success as a television personality, making appearances on various programs such as Dancing with the Stars and co-hosting American Gladiators.
Laila Ali grew up in Southern California alongside her older sister, Hana, and under the guidance of her father, Muhammad Ali, and her mother, Veronica Porsche Ali, his third wife. Although her early years were marked by a period of rebellion, including time in a juvenile detention center, Ali eventually turned her life around. She attended Santa Monica College, where she earned a degree in business management while working as a manicurist and later owning a nail salon.
Ali’s interest in boxing was sparked in 1996 when she watched a televised fight between Christy Martin and Deirdre Gogarty. This inspired her to begin training as a boxer, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Laila Ali made her professional boxing debut at 21 years old on October 8, 1999, against April Fowler, knocking her out in just 31 seconds of the first round. Over the next eight years, Ali faced off with some of the most notable names in women’s boxing, building her undefeated career.
In 2001, Ali defeated Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter of boxing legend Joe Frazier. Their fight was notably marketed as "Ali vs. Frazier IV," a reference to the longstanding rivalry between their famous fathers.
In 2002, Ali was named Super Middleweight Champion by multiple organizations, including the International Boxing Association, the Women’s International Boxing Association, and the International Women’s Boxing Federation. She would later add the International Women’s Boxing Federation’s Light Heavyweight title to her accomplishments in 2004.
Ali’s final match took place on February 3, 2007, in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she knocked out Gwendolyn O'Neil in the first round, cementing her flawless record of 24-0, with 21 of those victories by knockout.
Laila Ali has been just as successful outside the boxing ring. In 2002, she authored Reach!: Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power, a motivational memoir. She also collaborated with renowned boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in 2007 to release a series of workout videos. Ali served as a health and fitness correspondent for The Early Show on CBS and gained even more recognition as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2007.
In 2008, Ali took on the role of co-host for NBC’s American Gladiators, working alongside wrestler Hulk Hogan. She later appeared on NBC’s Stars Earn Stripes in 2012 and continues her work as a co-host on the program Everyday Health on ABC. In addition, Ali serves as the president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, advocating for women in sports.
Laila Ali has been married twice. Her first marriage was to boxing promoter Johnny “Yahya” McClain in 2000, but the couple divorced in 2005. In 2007, Ali married former NFL player Curtis Conway, and the two have two children together: son Curtis Muhammad (born in 2010) and daughter Sydney (born in 2011). Conway also has three children from a previous marriage. The family resides in Los Angeles. Laila Ali's incredible net worth.
Laila Ali’s journey from the daughter of a boxing legend to an undefeated champion in her own right, and a successful television personality, reflects her determination, talent, and versatility across various fields.
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Gwendolyn O'Neil | TKO | 1 (10), 0:56 | Feb 3, 2007 | Kempton Park, South Africa | Retained WBC female and WIBA super middleweight titles |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Shelley Burton | TKO | 4 (10), 1:58 | Nov 11, 2006 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained WBC female and WIBA super middleweight titles |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Åsa Sandell | TKO | 5 (10), 1:51 | Dec 17, 2005 | Berlin, Germany | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Erin Toughill | TKO | 3 (10), 1:54 | Jun 11, 2005 | Washington, D.C., Washington, U.S. | Retained WIBA super middleweight title; Won inaugural WBC female super middleweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Cassandra Geiggar | TKO | 8 (10), 1:13 | Feb 11, 2005 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Retained WIBA super middleweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Gwendolyn O'Neil | KO | 3 (10), 1:59 | Sep 24, 2004 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Won vacant WIBF light heavyweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Monica Nunez | TKO | 9 (10), 0:42 | Jul 30, 2004 | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | Retained WIBF super middleweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Nikki Eplion | TKO | 4 (10), 1:30 | Jul 17, 2004 | Bowie, Maryland, U.S. | Retained IBA female super middleweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Christy Martin | KO | 4 (10), 0:28 | Aug 23, 2003 | Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | Retained IBA female super middleweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Valerie Mahfood | TKO | 6 (8), 1:17 | June 21, 2003 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Mary Ann Almager | TKO | 4 (10), 0:55 | Feb 14, 2003 | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | Retained IBA, WIBF, and WIBA super-middleweight titles |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Valerie Mahfood | TKO | 8 (10), 1:14 | Nov 8, 2002 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained IBA female super middleweight title; Won WIBF and WIBA super middleweight titles |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Suzette Taylor | TKO | 2 (10), 1:11 | Aug 17, 2002 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won inaugural IBA female super middleweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Shirvelle Williams | UD | 6 | Jun 7, 2002 | Southaven, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Jacqui Frazier-Lyde | MD | 8 | Jun 8, 2001 | Verona, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Christine Robinson | TKO | 5 (6), 1:50 | Mar 2, 2001 | Verona, New York, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Kendra Lenhart | UD | 6 | Oct 20, 2000 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Marjorie Jones | TKO | 1 (6), 1:08 | Jun 15, 2000 | Universal City, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Kristina King | TKO | 4 (4), 0:37 | Apr 22, 2000 | Guangzhou, China | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Karen Bill | TKO | 3 (4), 1:40 | Apr 8, 2000 | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Crystal Arcand | KO | 1 (4), 1:10 | Mar 7, 2000 | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Nicolyn Armstrong | TKO | 2 (4), 1:00 | Dec 10, 1999 | Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Shadina Pennybaker | TKO | 4 (4), 1:47 | Nov 11, 1999 | Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | April Fowler | KO | 1 (4), 0:31 | Oct 8, 1999 | Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. |
