A profile of Cassius Clay - who was a good showman - and when his fights appeared on local TV, he began his trademark rhyming.

He went on to be recruited to the Nation of Islam at a time of the civil rights movement.

Mark Steel's comic lectures about the lives of historical figures whose ideas and enthusiasm shaped their generation.

With:

Martin Hyder
Mel Hudson

Producer: Lucy Armitage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2002. Show less