"Betraying Malcolm was the mistake I regret the most in my life"

That's the memoir Muhammad Ali wrote in his biography, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey

Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were best friends. In fact, Malcolm was the only torch that ignited the spirit of reaching the pinnacle of achievement as "King of the Heavyweight Boxing World".

Malcolm Little aka Malcolm X and Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali are two best friends. Cassius—he only changed his name in 1964—who was still “green” at that time, was fascinated by the charisma of Malcolm, the orator of the Nation of Islam group.

With a towering slender body, a fiery style without fear, Malcolm "bewitched" black groups in the United States, who for years were treated as second-class citizens. Although slavery was abolished centuries ago, the status of African descent in America at that time was still considered unworthy of being equal to Caucasian descent.

"How can a black man talk about white people and the government so boldly, but not be shot dead?" Cassius alias Muhammad Ali years later recalled Malcolm as quoted by LATimes. "He has no fear.... That's what caught my attention." Malcolm Little aka Malcolm X and Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali are then two best friends.

Not only a friend and mentor in terms of the Islamic religion, it was Malcolm X who injected enthusiasm and confidence into Ali. Cassius first met Malcolm in June 1962 in Detroit. Cassius was only 20 years old, while Malcolm was 17 years older. In fact, according to Randy W. Roberts, professor of history at Purdue University and author of Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, Cassius Clay would not be Muhammad Ali without Malcolm.

When Cassius challenged Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title on February 25, 1964, there was hardly anyone who favored Ali. Sonny is a boxer who is brutal and intimidating to opponents. He was involved in a number of robberies, studied boxing in prison, and, it is said, was familiar with the mafia. Sonny won the world championship belt by overthrowing the famous boxer Floyd Patterson in the first round.

Fifty-nine of the 62 boxing writers believe Sonny will beat Cassius to death. Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, was not sure Cassius could step out of the boxing ring as a champion. Even Robert Lipsyte, a reporter for the New York Times, had mapped out the shortest route for Cassius to get to the hospital. On the radio, Jerry Izenberg, a reporter for the New Jersey Star Ledger, said rumors were circulating that Cassius had fled to South America because he was afraid to fight Sonny Liston.

It was Malcolm who encouraged Ali. "This fight is a fight for truth... This is a fight between the Cross and the Crescent in the boxing ring for the first time," Malcolm told Ali as quoted by MensJournal magazine. "Don't you believe God has a purpose for you to get out of the boxing ring except as a champion?" At that time, it is said that Cassius Clay had secretly embraced Islam. According to his father, Cassius Clay Sr., told the Pittsburgh Press, Ali embraced Islam when he was 18 years old. But he was worried, if circulated, the news would hamper his career in the ring.

The people's predictions were wrong and Malcolm was right. In the ring, Ali danced and his fist stung Sonny until he could no longer continue the fight in the seventh round. Ali ran to the corner of the ring, right in front of the reporters' seats. “Swallow your words…. I told you, you, and you that I am the king of the world. Now you must bow to me,” Ali shouted at them.

From that day on Ali became the "King of Heavyweight Boxing", but from that day on his relationship with Malcolm grew more and more strained, until he became like two enemies. It had been a long time since Malcolm had actually not felt at home in the Nation of Islam. He repeatedly criticized the inappropriate behavior of Elijah Muhammad, the great leader of the Nation. Reportedly, Elijah had children out of wedlock with several women. Two weeks after Ali knocked out Sonny, Malcolm announced his retirement from the Nation. Ali chose to side with Elijah. Malcolm deeply regretted Ali's hostility. “I already feel like a blood relative to him… I'm not against him. He's a good boy. Clever. He just allows himself to be used by others,†said Malcolm as quoted by Randy Roberts in his book.

Two weeks after Ali knocked out Sonny, Malcolm announced his retirement from the Nation. Ali chose to side with Elijah. Malcolm deeply regretted Ali's hostility. “I already feel like a blood relative to him… I'm not against him. He's a good boy. Clever. He just allows himself to be used by others,†Malcolm said as quoted by Randy Roberts in his book.

Ali keeps avoiding meeting with Malcolm and refuses to take his calls. The two of them accidentally passed each other in the lobby of the Ambassador Hotel in the city of Accra, Ghana, in mid-May 1964. Malcolm came to Ghana to fulfill a number of invitations as a speaker. Ali, according to Maya Angelou, an American writer who has lived in Ghana for a long time, was in a hurry to return.

"My brother Muhammad," Malcolm called to Ali.
Muhammad Ali was silent.
"Brother, I still love you and you're still the greatest," said Malcolm.
Ali responded coldly. "You have abandoned His Majesty Elijah Muhammad. It was a wrong decision," said Ali.
But Malcolm wasn't hurt.

"I wish I could still tell Malcolm how sorry I am."
To his friends, Malcolm said, "I feel so... so lost. Please continue to treat him well. He is always in my heart. " Malcolm's patience could not soften Ali's heart. "Malcolm X and those who were against Elijah Muhammad will die.... Elijah Muhammad will destroy him by the hand of Allah", said Ali. Until Malcolm was killed on February 21, 1965, a year after Cassius Clay alias Muhammad Ali became world champion, Ali remained hostile to him.

Forty years after Malcolm X's death, Ali, already speechless, regrets his attitude towards Malcolm. "Betraying Malcolm is the mistake I regret the most in my life.... I wish I could still tell Malcolm how sorry I am", said Muhammad Ali in his biography, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey.

from : Intermeso Rubric explores historical figures or events related to the present, news.detik.

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