Muhammad Ali in draft court, June 20, 1967

Before Muhammad Ali became known for his defeat of Joe Frazier, the young boxer was convicted, sentenced, and fined $10,000 on June 20, 1967. He violated Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted to the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. BET reports about the historic day when the all white jury of six men and six women deliberated for twenty minutes and no one was surprised by the verdict.

Before he became known for “The Fight of the Century” with undefeated champion Joe Frazier and his “Rumble in the Jumble” with George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, née Cassius Clay, had already made headlines: He was convicted and sentenced on June 20, 1967, to five years in prison and fined $10,000 for violating Selective Service laws for refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Lawyers for the world heavyweight champion, then 25 years old, who had become a Muslim in 1967, argued that as a minister of his faith he was exempt.

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