Why did Muhammad Ali change his name

Not long after the Liston battle, Clay changed his name to Cassius X, and afterward to Muhammad Ali after changing over to Islam and affiliating with the Nation of Islam ... It has since been hypothesized that Liston deliberately dropped to the ground.

Born Cassius Clay Jr., Ali changed his name in 1964 after joining the Nation of Islam. Citing his religious beliefs, he refused military induction and was stripped of his heavyweight championship and banned from boxing for three years during the prime of his career.