The day the fuse was lit

On Feb 26, 1964, the day after wresting the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in Miami, Cassius Clay announced he was a member of the Nation of Islam. Two weeks later he adopted the name Muhammad Ali ('Praiseworthy One') given to him by Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad.

That lit the fuse on a charge that would eventually see Ali stripped of the title and banned from boxing for three years for refusing to be inducted into the US armed forces to fight in the Vietnam War.

New York Times reporter Bob Lipsyte was visiting Ali's home on the day the champ was informed of his pending draft eligibility after being reclassified as 1-A.