In 2002 Ali wrote (with co-author David Ritz) the book Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power, meant to motivate and inspire young people. In this book Laila discusses how she felt isolated at times because of her parents fame. Laila has also spent some time in jail. In the book Laila describes the physical abuse, stinks and arrests that she experienced in jail. Critics say that Laila's book has a good foundation to it but she doesn't give the readers advice in the book, rather she just talks about her own experiences. Ali married Johnny "Yahya" McClain on August 27, 2000. She met McClain through her sister Hana at her father's 57th birthday party. McClain became Ali's manager and helped guide her career. In late 2005 Ali and McClain divorced and McClain quit managing Ali. On July 23, 2007, Ali married former NFL player Curtis Conway in Los Angeles. Laila has three stepchildren with Conway, 15-year-old twin sons Cameron and Kelton and 11-year-old Leilani.[3] On August 26, 2008 Laila gave birth to her son, Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr. On September 29, 2010, Ali announced that she and Conway were expecting their second child together. Laila's interests include cooking and doing pilates to stay in shape.
Ali has a degree in business from Santa Monica College and previously owned a Balloon and Halloween mask shop in California before becoming a boxer. She is 5' 10" (1.78 m), with a reach of 70.4" , and weighs around 160 lbs US cosmetics company International Beauty Brands has launched a line of cosmetics and haircare products using Laila Ali's name.[2] When Laila had the hair products in mind she wanted a product that would be healthly for African American women. The products are made in the USA and although the shampoos and conditioners are more for African American type hair, anyone can use the products.
Laila Ali began her boxing career when she was 21 years old. When she first noticed women's boxing she was watching a Christy Martin fight. She first came out about the news on the morning show Good Morning America when interviewing with Diane Sawyer. On the show Ali quoted "I've been contemplating doing it since I was 18, ever since I found out that women boxed". When Laila first told her father, Muhammad Ali, that she was planning on pursing a boxing career he was not happy about her going into such a dangerous profession. But Laila explained to her father that she was going to box whether he liked it or not and that she was going to be very careful when she is in the ring. In her first match, on December 8, 1999, she boxed April Fowler of Michigan City, Indiana. They fought at the Turning Stone Casino Convention Center on the Oneida Indian Nation in Verona, New York. Although this was Laila's first match many media and fans were there, the main reason being because she is Muhammad Ali's daughter.
On June 21, 2003, Mahfood and Ali had a rematch, this time in Los Angeles. Once again bloodied by Ali, Mahfood lost by TKO in six while trying to recover her world title. But at the same time, for the first time in Ali's boxing career, she suffered a bad cut on her right eyelid and a bloodied nose, something no other female boxer has done to Ali to this day. Laila was left with a permanent scar as a reminder of that tough fight she had with Mahfood. On August 23, 2003, Ali fought Christy Martin, beating Martin by a knockout in four rounds.
Laila Ali was named by the International Boxing Association, Super MiddleWeight Champion in 2002. Was named by the Womans Association, Super Middleweight Champion in 2002. And lastly was named by the International Womans Boxing Fedn., Super Middleweight Champion in 2002.
When Laila ended her boxing career, it wasn't the end for her and her career. She has accomplished a lot like the hair care line, writing a book and giving advice to people about how to stay in shape and good diet tips as well. Before Laila's boxing career, she was 20 pounds over weight. But when she started her training for boxing she realized how easy it is to stay in shape with exercise and eating right. But Laila does admit that it can be challenging to stick with a certain meal plan.
Other top women's boxing champions such as Ann Wolfe (24-1), Vonda Ward (23-1), Leatitia Robinson (15-1 pro; 37-1 am), and Natascha Ragosina (22-0) have claimed in interviews that they have challenged Laila Ali many times over the years, but Laila has always found ways of avoiding them. Boxing writers and fans have repeatedly expressed disappointment in Ali's failure to fight the top contenders over the years.
In mid-2007, Ali was a participant in the fourth season of the American version of the television show Dancing with the Stars.[5] She had no previous dancing experience. Her professional dancing partner was Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The pair were widely praised by the judges, receiving the first "10" from judge Len Goodman for their rumba. They came in third place in the competition, losing to Apolo Anton Ohno (with Julianne Hough) and Joey Fatone (with Kym Johnson).
Ali is the new female host on the revival of American Gladiators alongside Hulk Hogan. The show premiered in January 2008.[6] Laila and the cast of American Gladiators appeared on the new NBC Celebrity Family Feud.
Ali joined the CBS team as a contributing correspondent on The Early Show with her first appearance in early January 2008. Laila Ali hosted The N's Student Body, a reality show on The N.
Ali also appeared in a 2007 episode of Yo Gabba Gabba titled "Train" in a brief dance number.
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