1942-
Heavyweight Champion Boxer

The Greatest.

Muhammad Ali called himself "the Greatest." While sports historians may argue whether he was a greater boxer than Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, or Jack Dempsey, none could dispute that he was the most publicized sports personality of the 1970s and, indeed, of the century. In the six-year period beginning September 1970 Ah won more than $26 million in fight purses, and he fought all comers at the remarkable rate for a heavyweight of four to six times a year; he met twenty-two opponents in those six years. But Ali's fame did not stem only from his boxing prowess. The ring was simply his stage. Ali was a celebrity because he was the most articulate and attractive black man of his time who could demand the world's attention, and he took that opportunity to address issues more profound than who was the best...