That he is the greatest of all time is beyond doubt, especially if we consider the way he transcends sports, just like other famous cases in athletics. If we take into account how he became a persona, the very essence that allows him to rightfully enter the hearts of fans, the books, the manuals, and the collective imagination, then we can certainly place him at the top. His aggressive style, his lightning-fast declarations against everything and everyone have inspired an entire generation of athletes (boxers and non-boxers). What more do you want?
Yet, I must say that Americans are an incomprehensible people. Yesterday, Ali was remembered as a hero of the homeland by everyone; 40 years ago, he was attacked by all, ostracized by all. The man is celebrated despite having become a Muslim, something that in that country, which today honors him, is still seen as a fault to be eradicated by any means possible (the usual inconsistency). He refused to go "fight" in Vietnam with a statement that I consider magnificent, for a war that later became a humiliating defeat and remains an open wound in the hearts of the faux-democratic fat cats. Today, Ali is remembered by a people that for decades insulted him, excluded him, branded him a traitor. This is the consistency of the human being, manifesting once again in this horrific way.
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