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Title: Ali in exile: Rarely seen photographs capture Muhammad Ali when he was banned from the ring after refusing to serve in Vietnam
Source:
dailymail
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html
Published: Oct 27, 2013
Author: Ashley Collman
Post Date: 2013-10-27 04:02:47 by noone222
Keywords: None
Views: 462
Comments: 34
He was born Cassius Clay, but we all know him by his chosen Islamic name - Muhammad Ali. While there are many pictures of the legendary boxer in the ring, very few show him in the years he was banned from the sport for refusing to serve in the Vietnam War. 'War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an,' he said. 'I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers.' When he failed to enlist on April 28, 1967, he was not only arrested, but had his boxing license suspended and his title stripped. Initially a Houston, Texas court found him guilty of violating Selective Service but the U.S. Supreme Court overruled that decision in 1971 and Ali was free to enter the ring again. Ali never had to serve jail time, but he still wasn't allowed to fight between 1967 and 1971. Instead he spent those years at the height of the civil rights movement speaking at colleges and universities. He never regretted his decision to stand up for what he believed in. 'I'm happy cause I'm free,' he told Time magazine in 1968. 'I've made a stand all black people are gonna have to make sooner or later - whether or not they can stand up to the master'. The following photo set shows Ali during 1968, when the boxer was still banned from boxing but continuing to command the attention of Americans across the country. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/...fusing-serve-Vietnam.html Poster Comment: 'I'm happy cause I'm free,' he told Time magazine in 1968. 'I've made a stand all black people are gonna have to make sooner or later - whether or not they can stand up to the master'. Mohammed Ali 'I'm happy cause I'm free,' I've made a stand all people are gonna have to make sooner or later - whether or not they can stand up to the master' Doug
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 32.
#17. To: noone222, 4 (#0)
Two things I recall about Cassius Clay; I was ecstatic when Frazer beat him in '71? And that rope-a-dope strategy sure did scramble his brain.
Ali and Frazier's first fight, held at the Garden on March 8, 1971, was nicknamed the "Fight of the Century", due to the tremendous excitement surrounding a bout between two undefeated fighters, each with a legitimate claim as heavyweight champions. Veteran boxing writer John Condon called it "the greatest event I've ever worked on in my life." The bout was broadcast to 35 foreign countries; promoters granted 760 press passes.[32] Adding to the atmosphere were the considerable pre-fight theatrics. Ali portrayed Frazier as a "dumb tool of the white establishment." "Frazier is too ugly to be champ," Ali said. "Frazier is too dumb to be champ." Ali also frequently called Frazier an Uncle Tom. Dave Wolf, who worked in Frazier's camp, recalled that, "Ali was saying, 'the only people rooting for Joe Frazier are white people in suits, Alabama sheriffs and members of the Ku Klux Klan. I'm fighting for the little man in the ghetto.' Joe was sitting there smashing his fist into the palm of his hand, saying, 'What the fuck does he know about the ghetto?'"[32] The fight lived up to its billing. In a preview of their two other fights, a crouching, bobbing and weaving Frazier constantly pressured Ali, getting hit regularly by Ali jabs and combinations, but relentlessly attacking and scoring repeatedly, especially to Ali's body. The fight was even in the early rounds, but Ali was taking more punishment than ever in his career. On several occasions in the early rounds he played to the crowd and shook his head "no" after he was hit. In the later rounds—in what was the first appearance of the "rope-a-dope strategy"—Ali leaned against the ropes and absorbed punishment from Frazier, hoping to tire him. In the 11th round, Frazier connected with a left hook that wobbled Ali, but because it appeared that Ali might be clowning as he staggered backwards across the ring, Frazier hesitated to press his advantage, fearing an Ali counter-attack. In the final round, Frazier knocked Ali down with a vicious left hook, which referee Arthur Mercante said was as hard as a man can be hit. Ali was back on his feet in three seconds [33] Nevertheless, Ali lost by unanimous decision, his first professional defeat.
Cassius Clay, this icon to Black history, retired with substantial damage because he let himself get beaten on for rounds at a time while the opponent got tired. His strategy was then to use a burst of saved energy to win the fight. Rope a dope as a boxing technique has never been used before or after Ali. No boxer has ever been as dopey as he was. So much for this Black racist who was nothing more than a creation of the White media intended for the consumption of likewise brain damaged Americans. I’m glad some of us on 4um have institutional knowledge of this sad chapter in our history.
I think he was more of a separatist than a racist. Black Muslims are usually separatists, and I agree with separatism. As far as boxing goes Ali was the best (heavy weight) pure boxer of our lifetime. (IMHO)
Certainly the very best in my lifetime.
He pissed me off initially with his poetic nonsense ... but ultimately he won my respect as a boxer. Floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee !
Same here. A friend and I were a few white-folk who went to see the Thrilla-in-Manilla here - what a battle! back in the day.
What a great fight ! 2 great pugilists !
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#20. To: Jethro Tull, 4 (#17)
wiki -
#22. To: Lod (#20)
#23. To: Jethro Tull (#22)
So much for this Black racist who was nothing more than a creation of the White media intended for the consumption of likewise brain damaged Americans.
#25. To: noone222 (#23)
As far as boxing goes Ali was the best (heavy weight) pure boxer of our lifetime. (IMHO)
#26. To: Lod (#25)
#29. To: noone222 (#26)
He pissed me off initially with his poetic nonsense ... but ultimately he won my respect as a boxer. Floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee !
#32. To: Lod (#29)
the Thrilla-in-Manilla here
Replies to Comment # 32.