10/26/2026
On October 26, 1970, Muhammad Ali returned to boxing, facing top heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry at Atlanta’s Municipal Auditorium after more than three and a half years away from the ring.
In 1967, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight title and denied boxing licenses after refusing induction into the U.S. military because of his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. During what should have been some of his prime boxing years, he stood by his convictions at tremendous personal and professional cost.
With help from Georgia State Senator Leroy Johnson and the support of Atlanta’s city leadership, the door finally opened for his comeback. Ali defeated Quarry when a severe cut above Quarry’s left eye forced the fight to be stopped after the third round.
The victory marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ali’s remarkable career… a powerful story of perseverance, conviction, and determination that we continue to share at Fighter’s Heaven.
