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“The Amer i cans pr ide themselves in their patriotism but looking back now, people say he was right and the war shouldn’t have taken place.

“They weren’t saying that back then and it took courage to take a stance against the US government on g rou nds of h i s religion. He refused to budge and he’s an icon.

“His achieve - ments inside the r ing spea k for themselves, several times beating opponents he should never have beaten.

“Sonny Liston was annihilating everyone when they first fought and Ali hadn’t real ly been tested but he showed great confidence before winning.

“And then his best years were taken from him due to his stance over the war. When he returned, he faced a top contender in Joe Frazier. Most people would have gone for easy fights.

“With George Foreman, people were saying he shouldn’t have taken the fight, that he would be lucky to come out alive as he was well past his best.

“And Foreman had bounced people like Ken Norton and Joe Frazier about in a couple of rounds.

“Most people, myself included, didn’t feel he should have been in the ring with him but he beat him. The man was just amazing – inside and outside the ring.

“His achievements outside t he r i n g ma t c h e d h i s achievements inside. There will never be another like him.”