Donald Trump announced on Friday that he may feel compelled to give boxing great a posthumous pardon, because it seems like “pardon” may be his favorite word these days.

In 1967, Ali was convicted of refusing to be sent to Vietnam to serve in the US military despite having been drafted. While he applied to be listed as a conscientious objector, his classification was rejected.

On his potential decision, Trump said, “He was, look, he was not very popular then, certainly his memory is popular now.” He also indicated that he may have some consistency with future pardons regarding cases such as Ali’s for other “folks that have some sentences that aren’t fair.”

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However, the late Ali’s attorney, Ron Tweel, stated that this notion is entirely unnecessary, as the conviction was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 1971 on that grounds that the Department of Justice had failed to fully explain that Ali’s reasoning for objecting to the draft was not based on his Muslim beliefs. In a statement, Tweel said, “We appreciate President Trump’s sentiment, but a pardon is unnecessary. There is no conviction from which a pardon is needed.”

As expected, there has been a great deal of brushback from other public figures, including Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton claims that Trump’s actions are “nothing more than grandstanding,” and that his past “anti-Muslim and Islamophobic policies and rhetoric” were objectively against Ali’s religious views. Sharpton pointed out Trump’s hypocrisy, saying, “You can’t stand up for Islam while simultaneously denigrating it.”

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While the practical objective of pardons is to overturn the sentence of an individual who is currently convicted of a crime, there is nothing to be gained from a posthumous pardon other than what could be deemed a symbolic victory. Interestingly enough, Trump also granted a posthumous pardon to another late boxer, Jack Johnson, and has expressed musings of pardoning Martha Stewart for her 2004 insider-trading conviction despite the fact that she finished serving her sentence years ago.

However, Trump has actually used his pardoning ability for real as well, having commuted the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life-sentence on non-violent drug charges. This came at the behest of Kim Kardashian, no less. Trump said, “The power to pardon is a beautiful thing. I want to do people who are unfairly treated like Alice.”

While it remains to be seen as to whether or not Trump will actually follow through with the Ali pardon, one can’t help but wonder if this is simply a publicity stunt in an attempt by the president to make himself seem more progressive.

Muhammad Ali’s 1974 World Boxing Council heavyweight championship boxing belt and a handwritten letter announcing his conversion to Islam are among items that will hit the auction block in September, in the largest such sale since the legendary boxer’s death in June.

Items From Muhammad Ali’s Life To Be Auctioned Off

Nearly 80 artifacts will be sold in total, with most of the items coming from collectors and none coming from Ali’s family, who have several significant artifacts in their possession.

Ali died on June 3 at age 74, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. After his passing, tributes from millions of fans around the world arose. Ali’s funeral was held in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

The once Christian Baptist became the most renown convert to Islam in American history when he announced he had joined the Black Muslim movement under the guidance of Malcolm X.

Also included in the list of items are the trunks Ali wore for his “Rumble in the Jungle” victory over George Foreman in Zaire in 1974, and the robe he wore during a 1976 fight against Ken Norton III.

The trunks are expected to sell for $150,000.

Kathleen Guzman, managing director of Heritage Auctions, said the Feb. 18, 1964 letter followed an interview the boxer had done the same day with Life magazine announcing he was changing his name from his birth name, Cassius Clay. 

“The editors, especially Jack McDermott, were worried that he would disavow saying that when the actual Life magazine article came out. So he ripped off a piece of paper and had him (Ali) sign an affidavit that said clearly he was changing his name,” Guzman said.

Heritage stated the WBC belt is the first of those won by the three-time world heavyweight champion to come to auction, and is expected to sell for some $600,000. The letter is expected to sell for upwards of $100,000.

Earlier this month, Ali’s fight-worn boxing gloves from his famous 1971 encounter with Joe Frazier sold for $606,000 at a different auction house.

The sale organized by Heritage Auctions in New York will conclude on September 10.

NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS – PREMIUM RATES APPLY) Muhammad Ali onstage during the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s 2010 Benefit ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s’ at The Waldorf=Astoria on November 13, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research)

Those who were still numb to the news of Muhammad Ali’s passing were forced to come to grips with reality today as the 19-mile funeral procession began in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

Thousands lined the streets of Louisville as the convoy for Ali’s procession, including the Cadillac hearse carrying his body, rolled past as some on-lookers chanted his name,  some exclaimed “The Champ is here,” and others hollered “Ali bomaye,” a reference to his epic fight with George Foreman in Zaire dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle.”

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‘The Greatest’ will be laid to rest today at Cave Hill Cemetery in a private ceremony immediately following the procession, which is expected to last approximately 90 minutes.

Ali’s motorcade has already made stops at landmarks of his life, including Muhammad Ali Center, dedicated to his name in 1978, sitting on Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Outside the arena a makeshift memorial swells, with flowers, pictures, signs and memorabilia, including a framed copy of Sports Illustrated with Ali on the cover.

His wife, two ex-wives and nine children are all participants within the motorcade.

After struggling with Parkinson’s disease, and other various ailments, over the last 20 years, Ali passed away in the late evening hours of June 3.

An outpouring of grief followed, with heads of state, celebrities, athletes and icons waxing poetic on Ali’s influence on the sport of boxing, social reform and culture around the world.

The event reads more like a celebration of Ali’s life and accomplishments, than that of a mourning process. Tears stream down the faces of on-lookers, but more so in celebration of their champion’s return to his hometown, a city where he won six Golden Gloves titles before entering the Olympics at age 18.

Young and old remember Ali today with the hope that his memory will not fade with time.

He was the, single-most influential figure in the history of sports.

Just moments after the death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, dozens of current and former sports stars took to social media to honor the three-time World Heavyweight Champion and civil rights activist, who died Friday night at a Phoenix-area hospital.

Athletes Pay Tribute To Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali, ‘The Greatest,’ Following His Death

Ali, who proclaimed himself ‘The Greatest,’ died following a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, and had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory problems.

His fellow boxers were quick to post their tributes online.

“My heart is deeply saddened yet both appreciative and relieved that the greatest is now resting in the greatest place,” Roy Jones Jr. said on Twitter.

“God came for his champion. So long great one. @MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #RIP,” Mike Tyson said.

Several other notable athletes, including US Women’s National Team soccer star Alex Morgan, New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and former Chicago Bulls small forward Scottie Pippen also expressed their condolences on Twitter:

Even as his health declined, Ali remained a strong voice in politics. He released a statement in December criticizing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump‘s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States. “We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda,” he said.

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay on Jan. 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, to middle-class parents, Ali started boxing when he was 12, winning Golden Gloves titles before heading to the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where he won a gold medal as a light heavyweight. He turned professional shortly afterwards.

“I am happy my father no longer struggles. He is in a better place. God is the greatest,” his daughter Maryum said on Saturday.

As a young heavyweight champ, Ali converted to Islam and refused to serve in the Vietnam War.

“Muhammad Ali shook up the world. And the world is better for it,” said President Barack Obama. 

Ali’s body is being returned in the next two days to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where his funeral is scheduled for Friday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center. The celebration of his life will feature a funeral procession through the town and public celebration. The boxer will be buried in a private service at the city’s Cave Hill Cemetery. The service will be presided over by an imam and feature eulogies by former President Bill Clinton, sports journalist Bryant Gumber and actor Billy Crystal.

NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS – PREMIUM RATES APPLY) Muhammad Ali onstage during the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s 2010 Benefit ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s’ at The Waldorf=Astoria on November 13, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research)

During Floyd Mayweather’s interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, he had some choice words for the man that many consider the greatest of all-time, Muhammad Ali.

“No one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali was better than me,” Mayweather told Smith. “But one thing I will do: I’m going to take my hat off to those guys and respect those guys because those are the guys that paved the way for me. Leon Spinks beat him when he had seven fights. They’d never put a fighter in there with Floyd Mayweather with seven fights.”

Of course, Muhammad Ali responded to the comments. But now staunch defender of Ali, Mike Tyson, has weighed in on the issue. And his response is a lot more vicious than what he did to Evander Holyfield.

“He’s very delusional. Listen, if he was anywhere near that realm of greatness with Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself,” Tyson told UCN. “He can’t take his kids to school by himself, and he’s talking about he’s great? Greatness is not guarding yourself from the people, greatness is being accepted by the people. He can’t take his kids alone to school by himself. He’s a little, scared man. He’s a very small, scared man.”

Well that has to leave a mark. The only thing that would have made that comment even more effective is if he immediately dropped the microphone.

It is safe to say who Tyson is rooting for on Saturday.

In the midst of the Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather excitement, which has seemed to ignite a passion for boxing that has been unseen for quite some time, many folks have been weighing in on the boxers’ legacy: particularly, where the two stand on the all-time list.

This notion reached a fever pitch after Mayweather’s interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith aired last week. During their conversation, he disagreed that Muhammad Ali is the greatest of all-time because the man only fought in one weight class.

“No one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali was better than me,” Mayweather told Smith. “But one thing I will do: I’m going to take my hat off to those guys and respect those guys because those are the guys that paved the way for me.”

He even used Leon Spinks as proof. The fighter lost to Ali in their initial bout in 1978, but beat him just a few months later. “Spinks beat him when he had seven fights,” he said. “They’d never put a fighter in there with Floyd Mayweather with seven fights.”

Now, it is understandable why Mayweather thinks this way. As Ronda Rousey pointed out, to stay on top, you have to believe you are the best. However, George Foreman, legendary boxer and grill salesman, told TMZ Sports that he believes Mayweather is better than him and Ali.

“Pound for pound, Floyd is better than me and Muhammad Ali ever were,” Foreman said to TMZ Sports. “This is a better generation by far. They’re smarter, they’re stronger, they’re overall just better fighters… We were good and we liked the attention that we got. But boxing is on a different level. This is an amazing generation.”

What did arguably the greatest fighter and trash talker of all-time have to say about this?