Final answer:
Muhammad Ali was an iconic boxer known for his evasive fighting style and societal impact. He was a member of the Nation of Islam and a civil rights activist, challenging the Vietnam War draft on religious and political grounds.
He later advocated for Parkinson's disease awareness and became a symbol of geopolitical significance during his boxing career.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muhammad Ali was not only a legendary heavyweight boxing champion renowned for his agile fighting style and poetic trash-talking but also a significant social and political figure. His famous quote, "floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee", captures his unique boxing technique and charisma.
Ali's influence extended far beyond the ring, as he became a member of the Nation of Islam and famously refused induction into the US Army on the grounds of his religious and political beliefs, an act that cost him his title and could have cost him his career.
His stance against the Vietnam War and his assertion of African American identity and pride made him a polarizing and beloved figure.
After his boxing career, Ali continued to fight social and racial injustice and became an advocate for Parkinson's disease awareness, after being diagnosed with the condition himself.
The influence of Ali's activism and his status as a cultural icon made his fights a matter of geopolitical significance during the Cold War, with nations around the world vying to host his matches as a demonstration of their own global standing and independence.