Ali, Muhammad

Impact on the world

Won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston in 1964, then in 1967 refused induction into the armed forces, citing his religious exemption as a minister of the Nation of Islam; stripped of his title and banned from boxing for over three years as a result, his conviction was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971, and he later reclaimed the heavyweight title.

Life & background

Trained by Angelo Dundee after leaving the camp of his mentor Archie Moore, Ali won the heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in 1964 as an 8-to-1 underdog. In 1967, citing a religious exemption as a minister of the Nation of Islam, Ali refused induction into the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, a decision that led boxing commissions to strip his title and ban him from the sport for over three years while his case worked through the courts; the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately overturned his conviction in 1971. His stance made him a global symbol of resistance for some and remains a contested chapter of his legacy for others, but he returned to boxing and reclaimed the heavyweight title, becoming one of the most recognized athletes and cultural figures of the 20th century.

Sources

1. Encyclopædia Britannica; International Boxing Hall of Fame; Team USA (U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame)