Ali

Cassius Clay Jr., later known as Muhammad Ali, rises from a brash young challenger to a global sports and civil-rights figure. The film documents his quick starts in the ring, his famous name change, and his willingness to challenge norms for his beliefs. It also shows his personal costs and the persistence needed to reclaim the heavyweight title and his place in public life.

A central figure in Ali's circle who influences his early era as a public Muslim athlete. The film portrays their friendship and the tension as Ali grows closer to Elijah Muhammad's circle. Ali's later disillusionment after Malcolm X's assassination deeply affects him.

Leader of the Nation of Islam who guides Ali's religious and personal path. He grants the name Muhammad Ali and shapes the expectations that Ali later tries to navigate, including the relationship with Malcolm X. His influence helps frame Ali's public duty and personal loyalties.

Ali's first wife, a former Playboy Bunny who does not observe Muslim marital restrictions, creating tension in their marriage. Her relationship with Ali reflects the friction between personal life and religious or public expectations, contributing to the eventual divorce.

Ali's later wife, whom he marries after Sonji, a young figure whose life intersects with his career and personal scandals. Her experiences are tested by his involvement with other women and by the demands of championship-level boxing life.

A challenger in Ali's comeback, whom Ali defeats by technical knockout in three rounds. The bout represents a return to form and a crucial step in reclaiming the title and re-establishing his dominance in boxing.

Ali's rival who dominates the Fight of the Century, losing on points, marking Ali's first professional loss and foreshadowing the long rivalry that defines boxing in the period.

Ali's opponent in the Rumble in the Jungle, where he employs a rope-a-dope strategy before a dramatic knockout. The bout is a defining moment in both fighters' legacies and in boxing history.

Ali's affair during the Kinshasa period, a personal complication that emerges as the media reports the relationship. Her presence in Kinshasa influences the tension around Ali's public life and priorities.