Muhammad Ali was never one to back away from a fight.
Perhaps his biggest battle—in the legal ring, at least—came when Ali refused to be drafted in the U.S. Army in 1967.
That battle with the man known as the greatest boxer of all time, began here in Houston.
Ali refused to step forward when his name was called by military officials at Houston’s Military Entrance Processing Station, leading to his arrest and a four-year fight that eventual made its way to the Supreme Court.
Ali said because of his faith—citing he was a non-violent Muslim and a member of Islam—he refused to fight in the Vietnam War.
“I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet Cong,” Ali said.
On multiple occasions Ali attempted to change his draft status, all to no avail. Less than two months after his refusal, he was charged with violating the U.S. Selective Service law in a Houston courtroom and sentenced to five years in prison.
Even before his charge, Ali’s refusal to the draft hurt his boxing career. The World Boxing Association stripped him of his heavyweight title and the New York State Athletic Commission suspended his boxing career.
After multiple appeals by his lawyers, Ali’s case reached the Supreme Court and justices overturned his conviction in 1971.
In his first fight after the Supreme Court’s ruling—he returned to fighting while his case was on appeal in 1970—Ali defeated Jimmy Ellis by TKO in Houston.
Later in November, he defeated Buster Mathis in 12 rounds in another Houston appearance.
Ali was 4-0 when fighting in Houston.
