Criticism of Muhammad Ali
Smith was a strong critic of former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali throughout Ali's career. When Ali refused to serve during the Vietnam War, claiming his case as a conscientious objector, Smith wrote: "Squealing over the possibility that the military may call him up, Cassius makes himself as sorry a spectacle as those unwashed punks who picket and demonstrate against the war", and berated Ali for being a "draft dodger" and a "slacker".
Later Smith famously commented on Ali's first professional defeat in 32 bouts against Joe Frazier: "If they fought a dozen times, Joe Frazier would whip Muhammad Ali a dozen times; and it would get easier as it went along". Ali went on to fight Frazier twice more, winning both times, once by unanimous decision and once by TKO.
Read more about this topic: Red Smith (sportswriter)
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