Today, on October 30, 1974, 32-year-old Muhammad Ali regained his heavyweight world championship by defeating 25-year-old George Foreman (the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” match, which was held in Zaire - now known as the Democratic Republic (not!) of Congo).
Seven years before, the U.S. government had accused Ali of dodging the Vietnam War draft; the New York Athletic Commission had revoked his boxing license; and the World Boxing Association had stripped him of his first world title.
But, in 1970 the New York State Supreme Court ordered his boxing license reinstated, and in 1971, in Clay v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction in a unanimous decision.
I leave you with this beautiful quote from the champion:
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