Why did boxing organizations strip Muhammad Ali of his titles? They are global non-governmental organizations, separate from the government licensing authorities. Why did they care about the US draft?
Both organisations were still very much rooted in the US and took the line that refusing induction meant that Ali just didn't deserve to be champion. The head of the NYAC said that his "refusal to enter the service is regarded by the commission to be detrimental to the best interest of boxing." The head of the WBA said that "in past similar situations when this nation has been in military conflict, boxing champions were often pointed to as examples of patriotic dedication. Clay's action today leaves us no alternative."
Muhammad Ali had his license revoked as well as his World Heavyweight Title after he refused induction in the U. S Army, in 1967, to serve in Vietnam, it was a pure witch hunt, he did not want to serve in a very unjust war to satisfy a war monger of a hand full of politicians. We had no business in that war, we were not attacked like we were at Pearl Harbor. Ali felt why should he go fight while his people were not free at home, those Asian people did not cause him any harm, do not care who the president was, he was wrong. Ali was vindicated by the U. S. Supreme Court on June 28 1971. It was a chapter in the fight for civil rights, too bad it costs a lot of lives that were just thrown away because of bad politics, poor decisions.
The World Boxing Association stripped him originally for agreeing to a rematch with Sonny Liston. The org. had passed a rule forbidding immediate rematches. He regained that WBA belt when he beat Terrell. The World Boxing Association stripped him a second time when his boxing license and passport were revoked after refusing induction in the U.S. Army. Since he couldn't leave the U.S., and he didn't have a license to fight in the U.S., he couldn't defend his title.
So true, wasteful war, we were not even attacked like Pearl Harbor, a total waste of human life because of war mongering politicians.
I totally agree, I do not like to hear that war was for our freedom, i do not live in Vietnam, they did not attack us, politicians that were war mongers attacked them, I do not believe in communism, but that is their way of life, like capitalism is our way of life. We needed to mind our own affairs and concentrate on our own country, instead of sending young men to die for nothing, I applaud Muhammad Ali for standing up.
