Muhammad Ali refuses Army induction
On April 28 1967 boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the U.S.Army and is immediately stripped of his heavyweight title.Ali a Muslim cited religious reasons for his decision to forgo military service.Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
in Louisville Kentucky on January 14 1942 the future three-time world champ changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after converting to Islam.He scored a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and made his professional boxing debut against Tunney Husaker on October 29 1960 winning the bout in six rounds.On February 25 1964 he defeated the heavily favored bruiser Sonny Liston in six rounds to become heavyweight champ.On April 28 1967 with the United States at war in Vietnam Ali refused to be inducted into the armed forces saying I aint got no quarrel with those Vietcong.
On June 20 1967 Ali was convicted of draft evasion sentenced to five years in prison fined 10000 and banned from boxing for three years.He stayed out of prison as his case was appealed and returned to the ring on October 26 1970 knocking out Jerry Quarry in Atlanta in the third round.On March 8 1971 Ali fought Joe Frazier in the Fight of the Century and lost after 15 rounds the first loss of his professional boxing career.
On June 28 of that same year the U.S.Supreme Court overturned his conviction for evading the draft.At a January 24 1974 rematch at New York Citys Madison Square Garden Ali defeated Frazier by decision in 12 rounds.On October 30 of that same year an underdog Ali bested George Forman and reclaimed his heavyweight champion belt at the hugely hyped Rumble in the Jungle in Kinshasa Zaire with a knockout in the eighth round.
On October 1 1975 Ali met Joe Frazier for a third time at the Thrilla in Manila in the Philippines and defeated him in 14 rounds.On February 15 1978 Ali lost the title to Leon Spinks in a 15-round split decision.However seven months later on September 15 Ali won it back.
In June 1979 Ali announced he was retiring from boxing.He returned to the ring on October 2 1980 and fought heavyweight champ Larry Holmes who knocked him out in the 11th round.After losing to Trevor Berbick on December 11 1981 Ali left the ring for the final time with a 56-5 record.
He is the only fighter to be heavyweight champion three times.In 1984 it was revealed Ali had Parkinsons disease.
