5 Decades Later, Muhammad Ali Remains The People’s Champ. He is Celebrated in a New Documentary (Video)
Muhammad Ali was not only considered to be the greatest boxer of all-time. To many, he is the greatest athlete in history. While there are arguably those who have been gifted with more technical expertise and more raw ferocity, it is what Ali did outside of the ring that cemented his legacy among the world’s biggest icons. He was a civil rights leader who stood side by side with Malcolm X in the turbulent 60s, and was stripped of his livelihood for 3 years, during his prime, as he civilly disobeyed a draft order mandating he fight in the Vietnam war. While he was a fighter by nature, he refused to do so for causes in which he did not believe. Now, he is the subject of a new documentary that airs tonight at 10pm EST on BET.
The People’s Champ is directed by Coodie & Chike, founders of Creative + Control and the filmmakers behind music videos for Kanye West, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Erykah Badu and more. The film will examine Ali’s impact as a charismatic sportsman and an advocate for the people. It features interviews from Nas, T.I., Mike Tyson, Jim Brown, David Banner, daughter Laila Ali and more. Here’s a look at the trailer.
Do you think Muhammad Ali is the world’s greatest athlete? If not, who takes the crown?
Related: Yasiin Bey To Honor Muhammad Ali’s Birthday With 3 Exclusives From Africa & New Series (Video)