In 1964, a brash new pro boxer, fresh from his olympic gold medal victory, explodes on to the scene, Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an totally new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self self-confidence with his unapologetic belief that he will be the biggest boxer of all time. To his credit, he sets out to prove that with his highly agile and forceful style soon creating him a formidable boxer who soon claims the heavyweight championship. His individual life is no much less noteworthy with his allegiance to the Nation of Islam, his friendship with all the controversial Malcolm X and his abandonment of his slave name in favour of Muhammad Ali stirring up controversy.
But, in the leading of his game, each Alis individual and expert lives face the ultimate test together with the military draft rules are changed, producing him eligible for military induction during the Vietnam War. Regardless of the truth that he could effortlessly agree to a sweetheart deal that would have meant an straightforward tour of duty for himself, Ali refuses to submit on principle to cooperate in an unjust war for a racist nation that treated his people today so poorly. The price of that stand is high as he finds himself unable to legally box in his own nation while his situation is contested in court. What follows can be a battle for a man who would sacrifice so much for what he believes in along with a comeback that would cement his legend as among the wonderful sports figures of all time.