Laila Ali

Laila Ali married Johnny "Yahya" McClain in 2000 but the marriage ended with a divorce in 2005. McClain was her manager and career guide when they were a couple.

She later married retired NFL player Curtis Conway in 2007 and has two children with him. Their son, Curtis Muhammad Conway, Jr., was born in 2008 and their daughter, Sydney Jurldine Conway, was born in 2011. Ali lives in Los Angeles with Conway and their children.

Laila Ali was born on 30 December 1977 in Florida, US to the boxing legend Muhammad Ali and Veronica Porché Ali, the third wife of Muhammad Ali. She is the eighth amongst her father’s nine children.

She is an alumnus of Santa Monica College in California and holds a business degree. She was into her own nail salon business before entering professional boxing.

She was a rebellious child and sent to juvenile home when she stole her mother’s car.Career

Laila Ali’s ring debut in 1999 was a high-profile event owing to her popularity as the daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Her debut nearly coincided with the US state boxing commission sanctioning first ever male-female professional boxing bout as exhibition matches. The timing of her debut and the sanction brought about more attention to women’s inclination towards professional boxing mostly dominated by men.

In 2001, Laila faced Jackie Frazier-Lyde, daughter of another legendary boxer Joe Frazier with the match receiving wide publicity given the popular bouts fought by their fathers. The event was termed the first ever main-event pay-per-view match between the two women. Ali beat Frazier in the eight rounds bout with a majority judges’ decision in her favor.

During 2013 and 2014, Laila Ali made a number of television appearances either as a host or as a participant. The most noteworthy appearances include ‘Celebrity Wife Swap’, where she swapped roles with singer ‘Angie Stone’; ‘Chopped: All Stars’ where she competed in support of a favorite charity organization and made it to the final round; ‘All in with Laila Ali’ on a CBS and ‘Late Night Chef’ on FYI as a host; ‘The New Celebrity Apprentice’ as a participant.

In 2002, Laila Ali co-authored ‘Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power’ along with David Ritz. The book talks about her personal experiences, her time in juvenile home and her state of mind due to the celebrity status of her parents, in an attempt to inspire the youth without being a gospel of advice.

She holds numerous world boxing championship titles in the super middleweight category with a record of accomplishment reading 24-0 in her favor during the nine years of professional boxing career.

She holds the WBC World Super Middleweight title for 2005 and 2007, WIBA World Super Middleweight title for 2002 and 2007, IWBF Female Light Heavyweight title for 2004, IWBF Female Super Middleweight title and IBA Female Super Middleweight title both for 2002 and 2004.

In 2012, she received the Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award (ACOA).