When words get in the way

Through the years, pro boxing has had its share of controversial utterances from champion boxers. Easily the most controversial was the statement Muhammad Ali issued back in the 1960s, when he opposed the Vietnam War and refused to be drafted into the United States military. “I ain’t got no quarrel with the VietCong. No VietCong called me a nigger,” said Ali. The then heavyweight champ was arrested and found guilty of draft evasion. He was stripped of the crown and did not fight again until the Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971.

In the 1980s, Larry Holmes was closing in on Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record when he drew howls from the media for a remark he made on Marciano. “If you want to get technical about it, Rocky couldn’t carry my jockstrap,” said Holmes. Marciano, for those not in the know, happened to be white.