Laila Ali is a retired American professional boxer, television host, author, and wellness entrepreneur who finished her boxing career with a perfect 24-0 record, including 21 knockouts. Born on December 30, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida, she is the youngest daughter of boxing icon Muhammad Ali and his third wife, Veronica Porché. Laila did not simply ride her famous last name. She overcame a troubled youth, entered the ring against her father’s wishes, won multiple world titles, and later built a successful career on television and in the kitchen. In 2022, she joined the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and today she remains one of the most respected names in women’s sports. This guide covers her early life, her greatest fights, her family, her business ventures, and the legacy she continues to build.
Laila Ali Bio and Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Laila Amaria Ali |
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1977 |
| Age | 48 years (as of September 2026) |
| Place of Birth | Miami Beach, Florida, United States |
| Raised In | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | Muhammad Ali (boxing legend) |
| Mother | Veronica Porché Ali |
| Full Sister | Hana Ali |
| Education | Santa Monica College (business) |
| Height | About 5 ft 10 in (177 cm) |
| Reach | 70.5 in (179 cm) |
| Boxing Nickname | “She Bee Stingin'” |
| Weight Classes | Super middleweight, light heavyweight |
| Professional Debut | October 8, 1999, vs. April Fowler |
| Final Fight | February 3, 2007, vs. Gwendolyn O’Neil |
| Professional Record | 24 wins, 0 losses (21 by knockout) |
| Major Titles | WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA world titles |
| Hall of Fame | International Boxing Hall of Fame (Class of 2022) |
| First Husband | Johnny “Yahya” McClain (2000 to 2005) |
| Current Husband | Curtis Conway, former NFL wide receiver (married 2007) |
| Children | Son Curtis Jr. (born 2008), daughter Sydney (born 2011) |
| Books | Reach! (2002), Food for Life (cookbook) |
| Known TV Work | Dancing with the Stars, American Gladiators, Home Made Simple, Chef Grudge Match |
| Current Home | Georgia, United States |
Who Is Laila Ali?
Laila Ali is an undefeated former world boxing champion and the most famous of Muhammad Ali’s children. She fought professionally from 1999 to 2007 and never lost a single bout.
Her success helped move women’s boxing into the mainstream. At a time when female fights rarely headlined major cards, Laila drew large crowds, strong television ratings, and serious media coverage.
After boxing, she reinvented herself as a TV personality and lifestyle expert. She has hosted cooking, fitness, and home improvement shows, written a bestselling cookbook, and launched her own brand of spice blends and home products.
Today, many people know her as much for her health and family advice as for her punching power. That range makes her one of the most versatile athletes of her generation.
What Was Laila Ali’s Early Life Like?
Laila grew up in the spotlight, but her childhood was far from easy. Her parents divorced when she was about nine years old, and she moved with her mother to Los Angeles.
In her memoir, she describes feeling isolated by her father’s fame. She also writes openly about getting into trouble as a teenager, including arrests, time in juvenile detention, and a stay in a group home for girls.
Laila turned her life around through hard work. At 16, she trained as a manicurist, and she later opened her own nail salon while still a young woman.
She also studied business at Santa Monica College. That early experience in running a salon gave her a practical head for business that she still uses today.
How Did Laila Ali Start Boxing?
Laila found boxing at 18, when she watched Christy Martin fight on television. Seeing a woman compete at a high level showed her that boxing could be her path, too.
She began training seriously and made her professional debut on October 8, 1999, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. She knocked out April Fowler in the first round.
The debut drew heavy press attention because of her last name. Many fans came to see Muhammad Ali’s daughter, but Laila quickly proved she had real skill and power.
She stood almost 5 feet 10 inches tall, carried a long reach, and hit hard with both hands. Those tools helped her stop most of her opponents before the final bell.
How Did Muhammad Ali Feel About His Daughter Boxing?
Muhammad Ali did not want Laila to box at first. He worried about her safety and, as she later explained, he held traditional views about women in the sport.
Laila stayed determined and went ahead with her career anyway. Over time, her father came to accept her choice and supported her career.
The bond between them grew stronger as her career developed. Laila has often spoken about how proud he became of her discipline and success.
When Muhammad Ali died on June 3, 2016, Laila became one of the family’s key voices in honoring his memory. She continues to speak about his courage, faith, and humanitarian work.
What Were Laila Ali’s Biggest Fights?
Laila’s most famous fight came on June 8, 2001, when she faced Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier. The event, nicknamed “Ali/Frazier IV,” became the first pay-per-view main event between two women. Laila won by majority decision over eight rounds.
On November 8, 2002, she beat Valerie Mahfood in Las Vegas by eighth-round stoppage. That win unified several super middleweight titles. She stopped Mahfood again in a 2003 rematch in Los Angeles.
In August 2003, she knocked out Christy Martin in the fourth round in Biloxi, Mississippi. The win carried special meaning because Martin was the fighter who had first inspired her to box.
On June 11, 2005, she stopped Erin Toughill in the third round in Washington, D.C., to win the WBC female super middleweight title. She became only the second woman ever to hold a WBC world title.
Her final fight took place on February 3, 2007, in Kempton Park, South Africa. She stopped Gwendolyn O’Neil in the first round and walked away still unbeaten.
What Titles Did Laila Ali Win?
Laila held world titles from several sanctioning bodies during her career. Her own team often describes her as a five-time world champion.
She held the WBC female super middleweight title from 2005 to 2007 and the WIBA super middleweight title from 2002 to 2007. She also held the IWBF and IBA super middleweight belts, plus the IWBF light heavyweight title in 2004.
Her record of 24 wins, 0 losses, and 21 knockouts gives her a knockout rate of nearly 88 percent. Few boxers, male or female, retire with numbers that strong.
In 2022, the International Boxing Hall of Fame inducted her in Canastota, New York. The honor confirmed her status as one of the greatest female boxers in history.
Why Did Laila Ali Retire Undefeated?
Laila never fought again after her February 2007 win, although she did not hold a big farewell event. She stepped away at the peak of her powers.
She has said that a shortage of worthy opponents and limited pay in women’s boxing made further fights less appealing. At the time, top female fighters earned a small fraction of what men received.
Family also played a major role. She married Curtis Conway in July 2007 and soon started a family, which shifted her focus away from training camps.
Retiring unbeaten also protected her place in history. Unlike many fighters who stay too long, Laila left the sport healthy and with her record intact.
What Did Laila Ali Do After Boxing?
Laila moved smoothly into television after leaving the ring. In 2007, she competed on Season 4 of Dancing with the Stars with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy and finished in third place.
In 2008, she co-hosted NBC’s revival of American Gladiators with Hulk Hogan. She also worked as a correspondent for CBS’s The Early Show and later hosted All In with Laila Ali on CBS.
She became the first woman to serve as an expert boxing commentator for NBC Sports during the 2012 Olympic Games. That role opened more doors in sports broadcasting.
Since 2017, she has hosted OWN’s Emmy-winning Home Made Simple. She now hosts Food Network’s Chef Grudge Match and has won celebrity editions of Chopped.
In 2025, she co-anchored Netflix’s coverage of its first all-women’s professional boxing event at Madison Square Garden. She has also appeared on The Masked Singer as the Panda.
Is Laila Ali an Author and Businesswoman?
Yes. Laila has written two books and built a lifestyle brand focused on health, food, and home. In 2002, she released Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power, a memoir written with David Ritz.
Her cookbook, Food for Life: Delicious and Healthy Comfort Food from My Table to Yours!, became a bestseller. It reflects her love of cooking, which began when she was about 10 years old, and her Louisiana Creole heritage.
She runs the Laila Ali Lifestyle brand, which offers recipes, fitness tips, and wellness advice. The brand also sells Laila Ali Spice Blends, a line of organic, non-GMO seasonings.
Her home décor collection with the retailer At Home became a bestseller during a three-year partnership. Back in 2010, she also launched a line of fragrance, skin, and hair care products.
Who Is Laila Ali’s Husband, and Does She Have Children?
Laila is married to Curtis Conway, a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers. The couple married on July 23, 2007.
They have two children together. Their son, Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr., was born in August 2008, and their daughter, Sydney J. Conway, was born in April 2011.
Curtis also has three children from earlier relationships, so Laila is part of a large blended family. She often shares parenting and healthy family meal ideas with her fans.
Before Curtis, Laila was married to Johnny “Yahya” McClain, who also served as her manager. They married in 2000 and divorced in 2005. Today, Laila and her family live in Georgia.
What Charity and Advocacy Work Does Laila Ali Support?
Laila uses her platform to promote health, fitness, and opportunity for women and children. She is a past president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the group founded by tennis legend Billie Jean King.
She serves as an ambassador for the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. Through these roles, she encourages families to cook healthy meals and stay active.
She also works with Feeding America to fight hunger and with Peace4Kids, a Los Angeles group that supports children in foster care. Her own difficult teen years give her a personal connection to young people facing hardship.
Laila remains a popular keynote speaker. In 2026, she headlined events such as the YWCA’s annual fundraiser in Seattle and the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame “Night of the Stars” in Las Vegas.
What Is Laila Ali’s Legacy?
Laila Ali’s legacy rests on more than her unbeaten record. She showed that women could sell tickets, draw TV audiences, and headline major boxing events.
Today’s female stars, such as Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, and Amanda Serrano, fight in an era of bigger purses and global streaming deals. Laila helped build the attention that made that growth possible.
She also proved that the child of a legend can create her own story. Rather than living in her father’s shadow, she carved out a separate identity as a champion, host, author, and mother.
Her journey from a troubled teenager to a Hall of Famer offers a powerful message about second chances. That message keeps her relevant to new generations of fans.
Conclusion
Laila Ali took the most famous name in boxing and made it her own. She overcame a rocky youth, won world titles, retired with a perfect 24-0 record, and built a thriving career in television, food, and wellness. As a Hall of Famer, author, mother, and advocate, she continues to inspire people far beyond the ring.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laila Ali
1. Who is Laila Ali?
Laila Ali is a retired American boxer, TV host, and author. She is the youngest daughter of Muhammad Ali and finished her professional career with a perfect 24-0 record, including 21 knockouts. She now hosts cooking shows, runs a lifestyle brand, and works as a speaker and boxing commentator.
2. How old is Laila Ali?
Laila Ali was born on December 30, 1977, in Miami Beach, Florida. As of September 2026, she is 48 years old and will turn 49 at the end of December 2026. She grew up mainly in Los Angeles after her parents divorced when she was about nine years old.
3. Who are Laila Ali’s parents?
Laila Ali’s father is Muhammad Ali, the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion. Her mother is Veronica Porché Ali, who was Muhammad Ali’s third wife. Laila has one full sister, Hana Ali, and several half siblings from her father’s other marriages and relationships.
4. Was Laila Ali ever defeated in boxing?
No, Laila Ali never lost a professional fight. She won all 24 of her bouts between 1999 and 2007, and 21 of those wins came by knockout or stoppage. She retired as the reigning WBC and WIBA super middleweight champion, which makes her record one of the best in boxing history.
5. Did Laila Ali ever fight Jacqui Frazier-Lyde?
Yes. Laila Ali fought Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, on June 8, 2001, in Verona, New York. Laila won by majority decision after eight rounds. The fight became the first pay-per-view main event between two women and revived memories of the famous Ali and Frazier rivalry.
6. Who is Laila Ali married to?
Laila Ali is married to Curtis Conway, a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers. They married on July 23, 2007. Laila was previously married to Johnny “Yahya” McClain, her former manager, from 2000 until their divorce in 2005.
7. How many children does Laila Ali have?
Laila Ali has two children with her husband, Curtis Conway. Their son, Curtis Jr., was born in August 2008, and their daughter, Sydney, was born in April 2011. Curtis also has three children from earlier relationships, so Laila is a stepmother as well and leads a large blended family.
8. Is Laila Ali in the Boxing Hall of Fame?
Yes. The International Boxing Hall of Fame inducted Laila Ali as part of its Class of 2022 in Canastota, New York. The honor recognized her unbeaten record, her multiple world titles, and her major role in bringing women’s boxing to a mainstream audience during the early 2000s.
9. What TV shows has Laila Ali hosted?
Laila Ali has hosted American Gladiators on NBC, All In with Laila Ali on CBS, Home Made Simple on OWN, and Chef Grudge Match on Food Network. She also competed on Dancing with the Stars, The Masked Singer, and Chopped, and she works as a boxing commentator.
10. What books has Laila Ali written?
Laila Ali has written two books. Her memoir, Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power, came out in 2002 and describes her difficult youth and rise in boxing. Her bestselling cookbook, Food for Life, shares healthy versions of comfort food recipes inspired by her family and Creole roots.
