Ali, known as "The Greatest," stopped Lewis in the penultimate round of their non-title heavyweight showdown at Croke Park, Dublin, in 1972. This fight came eight years after Ali's first world title win, when he stopped Sonny Liston in the sixth round at the Convention Center in Miami, Florida.
In the RTE interview, Ali explained why he chose to fight Lewis:
"Well I'm fighting Lewis for one reason, and mainly because Frazier won't fight him, George Foreman top notch fighter wouldn't fight him, Jerry Quarry wouldn't fight him."
Ali went on to shed light on the business side of boxing:
"With most boxers and manager this is just a business and they figure well they got a top contender and he's barely on top and they don't want to take a chance and lose unless they're paid great. Top notch fighters fighting 'Blue' Lewis can't receive the proper pay because he's not famous but yet he's got a chance to beat them and they have nothing to gain but everything to lose."
Ali's comments highlight a common issue in boxing. Top fighters often avoid less famous but dangerous opponents due to financial considerations. A fighter's fame plays a big role in securing high-paying fights.
Ali's career saw him share the ring with numerous legendary heavyweights. Many consider him the best fighter to have ever laced up the gloves, making his accusations against Foreman and Frazier all the more significant.