Cassius Clay INTENTIONALLY played the fool in order to raise his visibility and make himself more newsworthy. He patterned his behavior on professional wrestler, Gorgeous George, who constantly bragged that he was "The Greatest" and garnered fans who loved and hated him because of his flamboyance. His unwillingness to be drafted made him a hero (of sorts) in the Negro community and among low-information white people.
This guy is apparently trying to make himself newsworthy by saying politically incorrect things that will do the same: make people love him or hate him. Either way, it's to his benefit.
In order to be controversial, somebody has to be paying attention.
America's large Black athletic yoots (i.e., potential heavyweight boxers) have largely abandoned boxing in favor of football, hence they are now under-represented in the highest reaches of that sport.