Bush called him the Greatest of All Time'' and a man of peace,‘’ and tied the Presidential Medal of Freedom around the former heavyweight champion’s neck.
Ali, as a conscientious objector, refused to serve and was sentenced to jail for avoiding the draft, although the Supreme Court overturned the conviction. Outspoken and proud of his beliefs, he became a hero to the black nationalist movement. In 1975, he was featured in Parliament’s Chocolate City,'' a funk vision of black power that prophesied: Don’t be surprised if Ali is in the White House … and Miss Aretha Franklin, the first lady.‘’
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville, Ky., in 1942, Ali learned to fight after having his bicycle stolen as boy. He retired in 1981 with a 56-5 record, 37 knockouts and a gold medal from the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, having successfully defended his title 19 times.
He changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam as a follower of Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X. He later converted to Sunni Islam.