Honestly, most people think they know the story of Muhammad Ali’s wives. They think of the glamour, the ringside seats, and the inevitable heartbreak of the 1970s. But if you look at Belinda Boyd, later known as Khalilah Ali, you aren't just looking at a "former spouse." You're looking at the person who basically held the legend together when the world tried to break him.
She was seventeen when she married the most famous man on the planet. Seventeen.
Think about that for a second. While most of us were worrying about prom or algebra, she was navigating the Nation of Islam (NOI) hierarchy and a husband who was about to be banned from his profession. Belinda Boyd didn't just marry a boxer; she married a political lightning rod. And when the US government stripped Ali of his titles and his passport for refusing the draft, it wasn't the sponsors who paid the mortgage. It was her.
The Girl from Chicago and the Greatest
Before she was the poised, 9th-degree black belt known to the world, she was just a girl in Chicago. Her parents, Brother Raymond and Sister Inez, were deep in the NOI. They were serious people—security officers and companions to the leadership. When she first met a young Cassius Clay at ten years old, she wasn't impressed. He tried to give her an autograph and told her he’d be famous.
She told him he’d never be famous with a name like that. Talk about a reality check.
By the time they married in 1967, the world was changing. She changed her name to Khalilah Ali, but the name Belinda Boyd stayed with her inner circle. It was a transition that mirrored her husband’s, yet she often lived in the shadow of his massive personality. People forget that during the "exile years"—those three and a half years where Ali couldn't box—Khalilah was the one writing his speeches. She was the one feeding him those poetic lines and the quips that became his trademark. She was, quite literally, his voice.
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Why the World Got the Belinda Boyd and Khalilah Ali Story Wrong
Most narratives paint her as the "religious wife" who got replaced by the "glamourous wife." That’s a total oversimplification. Khalilah was—and is—a powerhouse in her own right. You don't get a 9th-degree black belt by being a wallflower. She trained with Jim Kelly. She trained with Bruce Lee.
She wasn't just sitting home waiting for him to return from the gym.
- She supported the family financially when the boxing money dried up.
- She managed the public relations and "social media" of the era—which meant handling the press and the NOI politics.
- She raised four children: Maryum, Jamillah, Rasheda, and Muhammad Ali Jr.
The marriage eventually buckled under the weight of Ali's infidelities. The most famous incident happened in Manila, right before the "Thrilla in Manila." Ali had introduced his mistress, Veronica Porché, as his wife to the President of the Philippines. Khalilah saw it on the news back home, hopped on a plane, and flew across the world to confront them. She didn't stay to play the victim. By 1977, she walked away.
She famously said she left him because he wasn't what he said he was. She even started calling him Cassius Clay again for a while, because she felt he hadn't lived up to the name Muhammad Ali. That takes a level of self-respect most people can't even fathom.
A Life Far Beyond the Boxing Ring
So, what happened to Belinda Boyd after the cameras stopped flashing at ringside? She didn't fade away. In fact, her life got arguably more interesting. She became a doctor of education. She became an aviator. She even appeared in the Jane Fonda movie The China Syndrome.
Fast forward to 2026, and her influence is still felt in how we view the intersection of faith and fame. She has spent decades working on humanitarian efforts, from building stadiums in Kabul to teaching etiquette and manners through her Color to Learn series.
The Political Pivot
Recently, she’s made headlines for being vocal about her political shifts. In 2024, she publicly endorsed Donald Trump, a move that surprised many given her roots in the civil rights era and the NOI. She’s always been someone who doesn't care what people think. She’s stated clearly that she "studied what Trump wants to do" and made her own choice, regardless of whether her family agreed.
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It’s that same "Belinda" energy from the bakery in Chicago—the girl who wasn't afraid to tell the future Heavyweight Champion that his name was trash.
Lessons from the Life of Khalilah Ali
If you're looking for the "secret" to her longevity in the public eye, it’s her refusal to be a footnote. She redefined herself as "Mama Ali," a spiritual leader and educator who moved far beyond the "ex-wife" label.
To really understand the legacy of Belinda Boyd and Khalilah Ali, you have to look at these three things:
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- Identity is Fluid: She moved from a Nation of Islam upbringing to a global stage, changing her name and her role multiple times, but keeping her core values intact.
- Self-Sufficiency is Key: She was the financial and intellectual backbone of the Ali brand during its most vulnerable period.
- Forgiveness isn't Weakness: She eventually wrote a memoir, Undefeated, focusing on healing and moving past the trauma of a high-profile, tumultuous marriage.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to dive deeper into her actual voice, skip the gossip columns. Her memoir, Undefeated: The Untold Story of My Forgiveness and Healing, gives a much more nuanced look at the 1960s than any documentary could. You can also look into her Color to Learn initiative if you're interested in her work with youth education and "old-fashioned" values.
She isn't a relic of the past; she's a reminder that even when you’re standing next to "The Greatest," you still have to be the greatest version of yourself.