Can Usyk go to Ali level status?

[Spicoli]

Apples and oranges regarding Usyk and Ali as far as drafted vs volunteering, defending homeland vs sent thousands of miles to fight an increasingly unpopular and undefined war in BF, beginning of career vs end of career so on and so forth. Ali was on the doorstep of superstardom and fame even before refusing the draft but it went meteoric with the turmoil of the 60's and what/who he came to stand for and also stand up to. Not sure what Trump can do to Usyk but it was interesting that the belt of Usyk was presented as sign of goodwill when Ukraine's Zelensky met with Trump, right before Potus got his feels hurt and shit the room up. Guess in a way he's already done his condemnation of Usyk .

Never took enough time to realize exactly how Ali was bulldozed not just socially politically but also within the sport. The politics and boxing was being fused together immediately in the punishment. Literally took his license on the exact same day. Imagination a point where boxing commissions state to state nationwide actually unify...on anything...to ban an athlete for over 3 years. Shit they can't even unify on how to define knockdowns or how to utilize instant replay today . Ali was a lightning rod and had the establishment quacking in their boots.

[TitoFan]

Apples and oranges regarding Usyk and Ali as far as drafted vs volunteering, defending homeland vs sent thousands of miles to fight an increasingly unpopular and undefined war in BF, beginning of career vs end of career so on and so forth. Ali was on the doorstep of superstardom and fame even before refusing the draft but it went meteoric with the turmoil of the 60's and what/who he came to stand for and also stand up to. Not sure what Trump can do to Usyk but it was interesting that the belt of Usyk was presented as sign of goodwill when Ukraine's Zelensky met with Trump, right before Potus got his feels hurt and shit the room up. Guess in a way he's already done his condemnation of Usyk .

Never took enough time to realize exactly how Ali was bulldozed not just socially politically but also within the sport. The politics and boxing was being fused together immediately in the punishment. Literally took his license on the exact same day. Imagination a point where boxing commissions state to state nationwide actually unify...on anything...to ban an athlete for over 3 years. Shit they can't even unify on how to define knockdowns or how to utilize instant replay today . Ali was a lightning rod and had the establishment quacking in their boots.

You're absolutely right in your "apples and oranges" comparison. The two cases couldn't be any more different. And yes... Ali was most definitely bulldozed both socially and within his sport. It's almost impossible to overstate the "cojones" it actually took for Ali to refuse to be inducted, and willingly serve his punishment. Come to think of it, I remember a guy that used to be in the forum who hated Ali for that, and even insisted on calling him Clay. There's a video on that, where the interrogator repeatedly calls Ali "Clay"... and Ali immediately corrects him every time. I'm not a fan of basketball players changing their names to "Meta World Peace." But there have been other high profile (serious) athletes who have legally changed their names based on various beliefs. Kareem Abdul Jabbar immediately comes to mind.