The sporting world is blessed with incredible athletes all around the world that stand together in times of need. Arguably the greatest athlete of all time, Muhammad Ali was famous for his scintillating boxing skills inside the ring and his electrifying persona outside the ring. One such moment occurred with Ali and NBA legend Bill Russell.
Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown shared a heartfelt moment that occurred with Bill Russell and Ali on Twitter, in light of Russell’s death as he passed away on July 31, 2022.
Bill Russell stood up for Muhammad Ali against all odds
Muhammad Ali was fearless in his personal as well as his professional life. He did not shy away from speaking his mind with anyone. Moreover, during the Vietnam war, the legendary boxer refused the mandatory draft for combat. Consequently, the boxing commission stripped Ali of his heavyweight title as he faced charges for draft dodging.
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) July 31, 2022
However, on June 4, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio, an infamous meeting took place that witnessed different African-American athletes come together in support of Ali. Boxing promoter Bob Arum invited Bill Russell to convince Ali to fight an exhibition fight for the troops instead of drafting for combat.
However, according to reports, Russel decided to stand for what he believed in. Russel decided to stand in support of the boxer even though Ali was the most hated man in America.
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He told Sports Illustrated, “He has something I have never been able to attain, and something very few people I know possess. He has an absolute and sincere faith. … I’m not worried about Muhammad Ali. He is better equipped than anyone I know to withstand the trials in store for him. What I’m worried about is the rest of us.”
Muhammad Ali’s best fight
One of Ali’s most iconic performances came during his fight against the then-undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman. On October 30, 1974, Ali caused a major upset. Following his undefeated run, the young heavy hitter was the favorite against veteran Ali.
However, Ali put on a scintillating performance as he displayed his rope-a-dope technique, where he intentionally let Foreman throw punches at him on the ropes. Consequently, as he evaded those punches, Ali knocked out Foreman in the eighth round to emerge victorious.
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What do you think about the hard-hitting moment shared by Bill Russell and Muhammad Ali? Let us know in the comments below.
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