I failed to mention in my comment, former heavy weight boxing champion of the world, Joe Louis.  When World War II started, he donated thousands of dollars to the Army and Navy Relief Funds, and when that was not enough, he enlisted in the Army in late 1942.  He travelled thousands of miles worldwide during World War II performing almost 100 boxing exhibitions as a morale-booster for the fighting men and women.  Ali could have done the same.  Unlike Muhammed Ali, Joe Louis was a true patriot, soldier and a black-American of great character.