Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, Beyond the Ring

By Renan St-Juste

This piece was originally written for 12 Rounds, as a tribute to a man who forever changed the history of boxing.

It’s impossible to ignore the passing of Muhammad Ali — the man who proudly called himself The Greatest of All Time. Was he the greatest boxer of all time? Yes, for some. No, for others. But ultimately, that question doesn’t really matter. Ali would have made history even if he’d never stepped into a ring.

He was more than just a heavyweight champion. He was a man of unwavering conviction — something we see far too rarely today. At the height of his career, he refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War, a decision that cost him more than three years of exile from the sport. Who today would sacrifice their career and millions of dollars for a principle?

Ali was also a powerful voice against apartheid and a tireless advocate for the underprivileged. His acts of kindness and activism are too numerous to count. Was he perfect? Of course not. But when the entire world mourns your passing, you know you’ve lived a meaningful life.

Ali lived with Parkinson’s disease for 32 years — three decades knowing his body would gradually, relentlessly decline. Was the disease caused by boxing? Probably. Did he fight a few bouts too many? In my opinion, yes. His fights against Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick should never have happened.

Rest in peace, Champ