Muhammad Ali was known as ‘the greatest of all time’ not only for his in-ring skills and witty persona but also for his contribution to the civil rights movements in the United States. Ali was one of the biggest advocates for the rights of the ‘black man’ in a time when the country was going through an ever-shifting political landscape.

This led the former heavyweight champion to garner the respect of many legends, including the late eleven-time NBA champion, Bill Russell, who once detailed why he stood up for Ali.

Bill Russell details why he stood up for Ali

Russell was a major part of the civil rights movement and lead the black athletes who were fighting for their rights at the time. Moreover, in a forgotten video dating back to 1967, the late NBA legend revealed why he stood up for the champ after his refusal to join the U.S army during the Vietnam War.

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“‘We gave our friendship to Muhammad Ali. I know we wanted to find out from him, you know you read the papers you see on the television all these kinds of things what is going on.” He said, backing Ali after he was slandered for his actions.

Why Did Muhammad Ali Change His Name?

Russell later revealed that he did this to support all the black athletes who stood up for their rights. The former Boston Celtics legend was an inspiration to Ali who himself would lead a generation of athletes not afraid to speak their minds.

Why did Muhammad Ali refuse to fight in the Vietnam war?

Ali was called upon to serve his country in 1967 after getting drafted into the army a year prior. However, he refused to serve in the army, stating that he would not serve a country where its own citizens were not being treated fairly. This was during the time when the black civil rights movement was spread across the country led by activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

During the time, this was not a popular stance among the people. Ali was stripped of his title without ever losing it and arrested in 1970, which was overturned by the U.S supreme court in 1971. Even though he had to risk everything he worked for, Ali still stood firm in his stance, never budging, which certainly makes him ‘The Greatest Of All Time.

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What did you think of Russell praising Ali? Let us know in the comments.