– Conscientious objector –
Ali – born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr on January 17, 1942 – dazzled fans with slick moves in the ring and his wit and engaging persona outside it.
He famously said he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
He took the name of Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam in 1964, soon after he had stunned the sport by claiming the world title with a monumental upset of Liston.
Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War saw him prosecuted for draft evasion, and led to him being effectively banned for boxing for three years of his prime. The US Supreme Court overturned his conviction for draft dodging in 1971.
Ali held firm to his beliefs and eventually earned accolades as a civil rights activist.
He received the highest US civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2005 and was chosen to light the Olympic torch in 1996, his hands trembling due to Parkinson’s – a poignant moment for the sports world.
Ali will be buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
About The Author
