Boxer who defeated Superman in a 1978 DC Comics issue (3)

I believe the answer is:

ali

(Other definitions for ali that I've seen before include "A champ'" , "Muhammad ... (former fighter)" , "Muhammad ___ (or MacGraw?)" , "Lepidopterous floater, apian stinger, d. 2016" , "Muhammad's son-in-law" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

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