NEW YORK — Standing at just 6-foot-3, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman isn’t exactly a force in the paint, but the sophomore guard looked like one at times on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Those celebrated triumphs over George Foreman and Joe Frazier arrived with Ali in his 30s, after his refusal to take part in US military operations in Vietnam brought about a three-and-a-half year ...