Disturbing images of a bloody public reckoning in the boxing ring. Millions of viewers on their television sets watch as Muhammad Ali‘s fists, with great ease, repeatedly strike the face of his visibly battered opponent, Ernie Terrell, “the Octopus,” who can barely protect himself.
“What’s my name?”
The giant taunts his miserable adversary. “What’s my name?” Ali roars, and strikes. “What’s my name?” Another devastating blow. “What’s my name?” Never has Muhammad Ali humiliated an opponent with such contempt as he did Ernie Terrell in February 1967.
“What had ‘the Octopus’ done?” He had stepped into the ring as a black fighter for the white establishment, to stop the rise of a new black contender. Terrell had demonstratively refused to address the opponent by his new name, Ali, instead calling him by his birth name, Cassius Clay, as the white public did. After 15 rounds, Ali brutally wins his 28th fight – out of 28. America’s black youth has a new idol.
This can be seen in the four-part US docuseries “Muhammad Ali” on Arte. Parts one and two air on Sunday (4th August) at 22:45. Parts three and four follow on Monday (5th August) at 23:05. The complete eight hours of the series from 2021 are also available in the Arte Mediathek.
The Beginnings
The African-American Cassius Clay, born in 1942, first entered a boxing studio as a young boy. He wanted to ask the owner, a policeman, for help because his bicycle had been stolen. Instead, Clay discovered a life goal that he would never lose sight of: He rose from amateur boxer to Olympic champion in 1960. A syndicate of white businessmen financed the first steps of his career to keep him away from the mafia, which controlled most US boxers in the 50s.
Nevertheless, Cassius Clay, who boasted loudly and was almost always reliable in predicting the round of his victory, eventually became too big to avoid controversy. In 1964, the world was astonished when he challenged the overwhelming favorite, Sonny Liston, for the world heavyweight boxing title.
He is a genius at self-promotion and even fooled a photographer into believing he was training underwater. But when he converts to Islam, joins the “Nation of Islam,” changes his name, and refuses to fight in the Vietnam War, Ali becomes a target.
The War Resister
It’s about principle for him; a star like him wouldn’t have had to fear combat duty in Southeast Asia. Such stars were usually not sent to the front lines but traveled between bases to boost troop morale. But he says he doesn’t want to shoot other non-whites. He is booed in the US and revered in Europe. And his illustrious career is far from over.
The brilliant American documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, who has already explained the American Civil War, the Vietnam War, and the significance of the bison to the Arte audience in epic-length multi-part series, has now taken on the greatest boxing legend of the 20th century and created another TV gem.
Still not enough?
Muhammad Ali is presented in four rounds, each between one and a half to two hours long, bringing the 2016 deceased world star, exceptional boxer, and self-promoter remarkably close. The masterpiece is accompanied by exquisite black music. If you can’t get enough of this exceptional talent, the feature film “Ali” (2001) will air on Sunday at 20:15.
The European Union expresses its concern over Ali’s controversial stance during the Vietnam War, fearing potential backlash and impacts on their sporting relationships. Despite the controversy, the European audience continues to admire Ali’s talent in the boxing ring, further solidifying his status as a global icon.
