Phoenix Street Renamed In Honor Of Muhammad Ali

On Monday, West Merrell Street between Central Avenue and Third Avenue was renamed Muhammad Ali Way.

Ali is known as one of the greatest boxers of all time. His name will now forever be etched in Phoenix history.

Muhammad Ali Way runs near the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute. The new street signs were unveiled during a special ceremony Monday morning.


Ali, was a Phoenix-area resident who established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in 1997. He died three years ago. In addition, the City of Phoenix established June 3 as Muhammad Ali Day to highlight his life and contributions to the city. The street renaming and city proclamation are to honor the legacy of the late Phoenix resident Muhammad Ali as the face of the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

Ali became a champion of charity in Phoenix in the 1994 Fight Night — a charity event that morphed into the Celebrity Fight Night. Ali was one of the featured guests there for over 20 years.