Muhammad Ali prevents a suicide 1981

“Over the next few days, Ali spent over $2,000 getting the man clothes, an apartment and a job. The poor fellow broke down in tears. He couldn’t believe the heavyweight champion was helping him,” Bingham said.”

“He grasped Ali by the hands, tears running down his cheeks, and said: ‘I spent years alone after returning from Vietnam. ‘I became convinced that nobody cares whether I live or die, so I decided I would die – but you changed that for me. You have given me the strength to carry on,’” Bingham claimed.

Ali stayed in touch with the vet for years, Bingham said.

“The champ called him every few months. There’s no doubt that Ali saved his life and helped him get a new start,” he said.