By now Cassius Clay is the heavyweight champion of the world.

He has also converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammed Ali.

His links to the Nation of Islam aroused hostility. Many people including fellow black boxers refused to address him as Muhammad Ali.

Worse was to follow. Although the United States recognised conscientious objectors. They refused to recognise Ali's objections due to his religious beliefs.

Ali was stripped of his title and was not allowed to box anywhere. He was also threatened with imprisonment for avoiding the draft.

Some of the boxing footage was from the BBC whose commentary was from the legendary Harry Carpenter. He was not alone in being repulsed by Ali's antics in the ring as he humiliated black boxers who disrespected him. They refused to call him by his new name. So did many others including journalists, pundits and fans.

I found it hard to muster any sympathy for Patterson and Tyrell. They knew what they were doing by playing to the crowd that detested Ali.

It might look silly nowadays. At the time these people thought the change of name was a gimmick. That Ali was not serious about his new religion.

The most modern parallel I could think is when Prince changed his name to a symbol after a dispute with his record company. The problem was the symbol he adopted was gimmicky and he was then stuck with the moniker Artist formerly known as Prince.

He reverted back to being Prince after he settles the dispute.

More serious was Ali being drafted to fight in Vietnam when previously he had failed. This was the Ali wilderness years when he should had been in his boxing prime.

The second episode was really the beginnings of Ali as a legend. The man who stood for his beliefs against the government who wanted to bring this uppity black man down a peg or two.

It was interesting to see just how many black soldiers supported Ali's stance.

Ironically the Black Lives Movement demonstrated just how short sighted politicians and sports administrators are. The treatment of Colin Kaepernick being a recent example.