heavyweight champion and in a time of truly awesome heavyweights. He was genuinely the undisputed champion, once winning a fight with a broken jaw.
However, for all of this, his truly heroic achievement is to have never bowed to the abuse. He charmed the entire world with his wit and kindness. Because Ali had put his body on the line for millions of people he did not know, in countries he had never visited, who spoke languages he did not understand, his global audience felt they had a share in his success. His stance of conscience was one that translates across all boundaries, across all cultural barriers. No one can emulate what Ali did in the ring, or his style outside it, but his act of solidarity and sacrifice, his resistance to the pressure of power, is something we can all draw strength from. A true hero is one who is knocked back by defeats, marred by flaws and doesn’t always make the correct decision, but at the end of the day strives to uphold their principles, their key beliefs, so that no matter how hard you try, you can never hold them down.
Cassius Clay’s victory over Liston.
Max Leslie
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker