Muhammad Ali learnt his application to ‘conscientiously object’ to being drafted for the US army had been rejected 50 years ago today
This began the most tumultuous time of Ali's life which ultimately saw him refuse to answer to his name for the army draft in April 1967
THE sport of boxing was about to be dominated for years to come by one man, "The Greatest", Muhammad Ali.
He had shocked the world and caused a huge upset in 1964 in beating the ferocious Sonny Liston and becoming the world heavyweight champion.
In doing so Ali, or as he was known at that time, Cassius Clay, became the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning champ.
Keep up to date with ALL the BOXING news, gossip, plus match-ups, results and live fight commentary
He then knocked out the same man in a rematch to re-affirm his position as the most exciting boxer in the world.
Meanwhile, outside the ring, the US were involved in the Vietnam War that had began in 1955, and didn't end until 20 years later.
Ali then defended his title with a unanimous points decision against Ernie Terrell. There was only one way the Kentucky-born fighter was going, right?
But 50 years ago today Ali was dealt the hammer blow of learning his appeal to avoid draft to the US army had failed - and he would be joining the military effort in Vietnam.
Local Board No.47 had reviewed his file, and declined his appeal on the grounds of being a "conscientious objector".
This began the process that would ultimately see him refuse to stand forward when his name was read out for subscription on April 28, 1967 at Houston’s Military Entrance Processing Station.
Then came a five-year jail sentence, a £8,100 fine, not to mention losing everything he had worked so hard for in the sport of boxing.
Related Stories
His license was revoked, no US state would grant him another one, and he was immediately stripped of his heavyweight title he had won with his a stunning upset of Liston on February 25, 1964.
And it was the draft classification programme that did for Ali, who changed his name from Cassius Clay after converting to Islam.
Only three years earlier, in 1964, Ali's weakness in mental assessments had seen him ranked in the 1-Y category. This meant he was ineligible for draft.
But then came the restructuring of boundaries, and Ali was reclassified as 1-A - meeting the relevant eligibility standards before appeal.
So it was back to form-filling in 1966 for the most exciting talent boxing had ever seen. Ali completed Form 150 saying that he was "Conscientious Objector".
Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip ahead of the January window with SunSport's daily LIVE blog
Ali emphasised his belief that any sort of war was against his religion, and that he was a man of peace and was opposed to this sort of conflict.
The reported: "Clay, 25, recently said that if going to war would help America’s Negroes ‘get freedom, justice and equality, you would not have to draft me. I would join.’ ”
This didn't wash with US officials. On January 12, 1967 the decision was taken that Ali would not be exempt from draft via ministerial exemption.
In his book, The Greatest, My Own Story, Ali writes: "A TV reporter had been sent up to ask my reaction to the fact the Draft Board in my home town of Louisville, Kentucky, had just promoted me from 1-Y — deferred status — to 1-A, making me eligible for immediate induction to the US Army.
"For two years the Army had labelled me a "nut". Now, without testing me to see if I’ve gotten wiser or worser, they tell me I’m all right.
"It was as if in the two years they left me alone I became one of the 30 smartest men in Louisville.
I gave my reply: “I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet Cong."
But he had enough "quarrel" to refuse to enlist just a few months later, on April 28, when he stood back on his name being read out.
He was arrested, and charged with draft evasion. After a two-day trial he was convicted, the sentence being five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
He never spent any time in prison as the appeal was lodged immediately, with the ring legend only being vindicated by the US Supreme Court four years later.
But the main dagger to the heart was a three-year ban from boxing, his frustrations taken out on poor Jerry Quarry on October 26 1970 with a third round knockout.
In his book, Ali wrote: "Up to that day in 1966, outwardly at least, the extent of my involvement in the war had been a TV spectator.
"But I had seen a series of pictures in a magazine showing the mangled bodies of dead Viet Cong laid out on the highway like rows of logs.
"A white American officer was walking down the aisle of the dead, taking the “body count”.
"The only enemy alive was a little naked girl, searching among the bodies, her eyes wide, frightened.
"I clipped out that picture. The face has never quite left my mind."
Ali passed way in hospital in Arizona, US in June last year, with his fourth wife Yolanda — known as Lonnie — and his seven daughters and two sons at his bedside.