Race and Politics: The unapologetic Ali was a powerful symbol of black pride. For resisting the draft in 1967—“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong”—Ali was vilified, sentenced to prison and stripped of his title. The Supreme Court overturned the conviction and public opinion came around, but Ali was inactive for three of his prime boxing years.
Religion: Perhaps the most high-profile convert to the Nation of Islam, Cassius Clay was reborn Muhammad Ali shortly after he bested Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title in 1964.
Marketing: A rhyming, taunting showboat, he built the Ali “brand” before there was such a term, and promoted it across the globe.
