Being a person who refused to participate in war due to moral or religious beliefs, he strived for victory in both competitions and defended his own rights. He possessed a remarkable ability to entertain and held the highest position in the world, causing his opponents in the heavyweight division, such as Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, and George Foreman, to feel like unknowing guests at a comedic event. Ali was a vocal challenge to the existing system.
The sword, as sharp as his wit, never bored the heavyweight gold and silver-tongued fighter, as he roared with his mouth wide open.
No one could express it more eloquently than Ali.
So why bother?
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Rumble, young man, rumble.”
– In 1964, prior to his bout with Sonny Liston.
“I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m a bad man! I shook up the world! I shook up the world! I shook up the world!”
– On February 25, 1964, Ali emerged victorious over Sonny Liston.
“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.”
— Undated.
“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.”
On February 17, 1966, Ali’s renowned justification for his refusal to enlist in the United States Army.
“You serious? I got to stay here and lead my people to the right man — Elijah Muhammad.”
Just two days prior to declining to join the military, when questioned about why he doesn’t escape the nation in an interview conducted by Robert Lipsyte of The New York Times on April 26, 1967.
“I’ve done my celebrating already. I said a prayer to Allah.”
On June 28, 1971, after receiving notification that the U.S. Supreme Court had overturned his conviction for dodging the draft.
“They did what they thought was right, and I did what I thought was right.”
– On the government’s persistent attempt to incarcerate him.
“I told you all, all of my critics, that I was the greatest of all time. … Never make me the underdog until I’m about 50 years old.”
– On October 1, 1974, after defeating George Foreman to regain the heavyweight championship, in Kinshasa, Zaire.
“I saw your wife. You’re not as dumb as you look.”
In the Thrilla in Manila on October 1, 1975, Joe Frazier suffered defeat at the hands of President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines just a few days prior.
“My gloves are going to jail! They ain’t done nothin’ — yet.”
On July 1, 1975, Joe Bugner’s bout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia would result in him being confined by the gloves, as instructed by the responsible commission member.
Relevant Articles
“My name is known in Serbia, Pakistan, Morocco. These are countries that don’t follow the Kentucky Derby.”
– Interview with the New York Times, April 1977.
“All I can do is fight for truth and justice. I can’t save anybody. He’s a science fiction character, and I’m a real character.”
– During a press conference on January 31st, to unveil a comic book where Ali triumphs over Superman.
“People say I talk so slow today. That’s no surprise. I calculated I’ve taken 29,000 punches. But I earned $57 million and I saved half of it. So I took a few hard knocks. Do you know how many black men are killed every year by guns and knives without a penny to their names? I may talk slow, but my mind is OK.”
Seales Ray Sugar, legally blind, experienced detached retinas while boxing for the benefit of Seattle on January 20, 1984.
“What I suffered physically was worth what I’ve accomplished in life. A man who is not courageous enough to take risks will never accomplish anything in life.”