Boxing

President Donald Trump considering posthumous pardon for Muhammad Ali

The boxing legend refused induction into the U.S. Army in 1967 and was subsequently convicted of draft evasion.

Bob Hille
08 June, 2018 19:56 IST

American President Donald Trump said that he may pardon deceased boxing great Muhammad Ali.   -  The Hindu Photo Library

Bob Hille
08 June, 2018 19:56 IST

President Donald Trump is considering a posthumous pardon for boxing great Muhammad Ali, The Associated Press reported Friday morning.

 

In 1967, Ali, arguably at the height of his athletic powers, refused to be inducted into the U.S. Army, citing religious reasons after his conversion to Islam.

Ali was immediately stripped of his heavyweight title and convicted of draft evasion. He avoided prison while his case was appealed.

There has been no apparent indication more than 50 years later that Ali or his family had desired a pardon of any kind, and some say he was proud of his actions in resisting the Vietnam War.

Trump in recent weeks has used his unilateral presidential powers to pardon several people, including another boxing legend in Jack Johnson.

However, when Trump was asked by a reporter if he is thinking about pardoning OJ Simpson he said, "No, I'm not thinking about pardoning OJ," according to The Oakland Press.

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