His reward was hatred for pulling out a teensy American flag that his girlfriend gave him that he waved around. Oh, and Civil Rights icon Professor Harry Edwards was calling for US Authorities to kick him out of Olympic Village. When he turned pro in his hometown of Houston, he was widely Booed and Mocked as well as in away fights.
Eventually Boxing through his trainer Dick Sadler and Don King screwed him royally, so he left in his prime, yet nobody could ever keep a good man down as he proved in his comeback. Boxers are like cars. Some go for flashy Ali's, others go for Horsepower Georges...