PBS Announces Muhammad Ali Documentary to Premiere in September

There have been reports of three different upcoming documentaries on the youngest boxing heavyweight champion of the world, Mike Tyson, coming out starting at the end of the month. But, another boxing documentary worth noting is the forthcoming one about the flashiest and most entertaining heavyweight boxer in history, born as Cassius Clay. After converting to the Muslim faith, he was known to the world as Muhammad Ali, the person who famously coined the term The G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time).

PBS announced that they will be releasing MUHAMMAD ALI, a new four-part documentary that was directed by filmmaker Ken Burns. The doc will be airing later this year on Sept. 19–22. The series, which was in development for six years, was also written and co-directed by Sarah Burns and David McMahon.

“Muhammad Ali was the very best at what he did,” said Ken Burns in a written statement. “He was arguably America’s greatest athlete, and his unflinching insistence that he be unabashedly himself at all times made him a beacon for generations of people around the world seeking to express their own humanity.”

RELATED CONTENT: Jamie Foxx Portrays Boxing Champ Mike Tyson in Upcoming Series Directed By Antoine Fuqua

The documentary follows the life of the three-time heavyweight boxing champion and shows his resilience as he challenged America’s racial prejudices, religious biases, and notions about what roles celebrities and athletes play in our society, and inspired people all over the world with his message of pride and self-affirmation.

“Muhammad Ali is a national icon whose life and legacy are woven into the fabric of American history,” said Sylvia Bugg, chief programming executive and general manager, General Audience Programming at PBS. “PBS is committed to sharing stories that deepen understanding and reflect a diversity of perspectives, and we’re thrilled to bring this extraordinary biopic to our audiences this fall.”

The documentary MUHAMMAD ALI will be streaming for free on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App. PBS station members can view the documentary via PBS Passport, as part of a full collection of Ken Burns films. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.