Muhammad Ali, of course, is known around the world as “The Greatest,” the first three-time heavyweight world champion and the most famous boxer who ever lived by a lot. He engaged in many memorable fights and eventually became a hero to millions, not only for his exploits in the ring but for his humanitarian work outside of it. But Ali also had a historic legal fight that caused him to also be hated by millions and to lose more than three years of his prime. He was at the height of his first title reign, having made nine defenses, but the United States was involved in the Vietnam War and Ali was drafted to serve in the military. As a devout Muslim, Ali sought status as a conscientious objector and said in 1966 he would not serve due to his religious beliefs. “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” he famously said. His objector application was denied and when he was scheduled to be inducted into the U.S. Army in April 1967, Ali refused. His decision was extremely controversial. He was stripped of the heavyweight title and also of his boxing license by the New State Athletic Commission, the most powerful commission in the country at that time. Other commissions followed New York’s lead and in June 1967, Ali was convicted of a felony charge of draft evasion. He was sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and banned from boxing. Ali did not go to prison while appealing his case, which was eventually heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. It overturned his conviction on technicalities on an 8-0 vote. Finally, after three years and seven months out of the ring, Ali made a triumphant return in October 1970 with a third-round knockout of Jerry Quarry and would go on to have many of his biggest fights, including against Joe Frazier three times, George Foreman, Ken Norton three times and Leon Spinks twice while also winning the title two more times. Ali’s biggest fight, however, may very well have been standing up to the U.S. government over his beliefs and paying the steep price of those lost years of his career.