1. Muhammad Ali Being Stripped of Championship
Muhammad Ali was stripped of the heavyweight boxing championship in 1966 for refusing to fight in the Vietnam war. Ali was drafted to take part in America’s quest to prevent countries from adopting communist governments, and like many others at the time did not agree with the war. Ali was charged with draft evasion but eventually had the charges thrown out in 1970.
His famous quote after announcing he would not go to war is as follows:
“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end.”
Ali was unable to have a sanctioned bout between March 22nd 1966 and October 26th 1970 as a result.
