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‘The Greatest,’ Starring Muhammad Ali, to Air Tonight

Jun 6, 2016  •  Post A Comment

Television continues to celebrate the life of three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, who died Friday at 74. Bounce TV will pay tribute to Ali with an airing tonight of “The Greatest,” a 1977 movie starring Ali as himself.

The program airs at 10 p.m. ET (9 p.m. CT).

“‘The Greatest’ is a dramatization of Ali’s life and starts with his rise to fame winning the heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games, when he was known as Cassius Clay,” Bounce notes in its announcement. “He then stuns Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion of the world and soon after converts to Islam and changes his name. When he is suddenly classified 1A by the Draft Board that earlier rejected him, Ali refuses the draft on religious grounds, which leads to the stripping of his title.”

The announcement continues: “Embarking on — and ultimately winning — a nearly four-year-long court battle, Ali then returns to the ring and takes part in what many consider some of the greatest fights of all time. Against all odds, he defeats George Foreman in the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ to win back the heavyweight title.”

The production is based on a book written by Ali and others, and feeatures boxing footage from his actual fights.

1977-the greatest-muhammad ali

One Comment

  1. Not the “greatest” movie. But worth watching for the fight footage and history of Ali’s battle with draft. Plus a great chance to see Ali in his prime, as well as young Bob Duvall

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