Should stay out of this one, and sorry No Contest I know this topic doesn't help much, but Ali didn't "all the sudden" become religous to get out of the war. It wasn't like he was given his draft number then all of the sudden he was a Black Muslim.

Anyways, take 3 years of their prime out of most any great fighter in history, and I bet there is no way most any of them become the best of all time in their division. I mean, some guys are considered because of what they do in just 3 years, Ali had that taken away from him and is still undoubtedly (in my mind) the greatest Heavyweight of all time.