Muhammad Ali was regarded as the best boxer ever not only due to his in-ring talents but also because of his impact outside of the sport. Ali was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He was an activist known for fighting for the rights of black people during the 60s and one of the most beloved personalities in the world.
Moreover, The People’s Champ was also a part of pop culture with many renowned friends in Hollywood. One of them was Oscar-winning actor and former Mayor of Carmel-by-the-sea City, Clint Eastwood, who once detailed an incident with Ali that left him speechless. In an interview with TMZ back in 2016, Eastwood was asked to share the fondest memory he had of Ali.
He then revealed that his best memory of Ali was back when he first met the boxing legend on the Carson show. He stated that Ali asked him to say one of his most iconic lines to him. “The first time I met him on the Carson show in New York, it was being broadcasted in New York and he was just the champion.
He told me to give him the look like on the films and sit and say you got 10 minutes to get out of town,” said Eastwood.
However, the actor then revealed that he couldn’t do it and laughed at Ali. “I couldn’t do it. I was laughing at him.” He added.
Ali always had a charm about his personality that attracted people from all over the world. Eastwood was no exception, as he, too, was mesmerized by the personality of the boxing legend, which prevented him from saying his famous dialogue.
Ali was among the few athletes in the United States who stood up for the rights of black people in the country. However, his most notable moment of activism came after he refused to serve in the military during the Vietnam war. Ali refused to serve in the army, claiming that he will not fight for a country whose own citizens were treated unfairly.