“I have been so great in boxing they had to create an image like Rocky, a white image on the screen, to counteract my image in the ring. America has to have its white images, no matter where it gets them. Jesus, Wonder Woman, Tarzan and Rocky.”

American professional boxer and activist

Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist. He became a global cultural figure and was widely known as “the Greatest”. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970, was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978, and was the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named him Sportsman of the Century, and the BBC named him Sports Personality of the Century.