"The Greatest"

Muhammad Ali.

Such a clever man who spoke with great poetry. A man who always knew what he wanted and got it. I can't help but research him. I've been watching boxing footage day in and out.

It all started when he was 12, and his bicycle was stolen. He ran up to a policeman, Joe Martin, fuming. Turns out, Joe runs his own gym and trained the boy to box. From there it began.

After Ali had converted to Muslim he was supposed to join the Vietnam War. But he didn't. He was furious at the thought that black people were not treated right, but still had to put on a uniform and "continue the domination of white slave masters" by murdering another nation. 

"I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong... they never called me nigger."

He said war is against the teachings of the Qur'an. 

"I'd rather face machine gunfire before, uh, deviate from the teachings of almighty God and the religion of Islam."

1967, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title and boxing license due to his refusal to join the Armed Forces on religious grounds. 3 years later, he was vindicated by the US Supreme Court and returned to the ring. 

Ali on how he'd like to be remembered