This day in black history: Muhammad Ali refuses army induction

Photo: EMPICS/Landov

On April 28, 1967, as the United States was at war in Vietnam, boxing champion, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the United States armed forces due to his religious beliefs. On June 20, 1967, Ali was convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and banned from boxing for three years. He stayed out of prison as his case was appealed and he returned to the boxing ring on October 26, 1970, knocking out Jerry Quarry in Atlanta in the third round. On March 8, 1971, Ali fought Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” and lost after 15 rounds, the first loss of his professional boxing career.  On June 28th of that same year, the Unites States Supreme Court overturned his conviction for evading the draft.

Source: History