Within the world of boxing, there’s one weight division in particular that always captures the imagination of the public, and that is the heavyweights. And for so many one man has become synonymous with not only that division, but boxing itself: Muhammad Ali.

This new documentary focuses on a five year period in the young boxer’s life, a time that saw him grow from amateur to the champion of the world.

It begins with Cassius Clay, his birth name, aged 17, fighting at the Golden Gloves, a boxing event for promising amateurs. It’s a competition that seen as the perfect springboard for going onto the Olympics, which is exactly what Clay did.

But as well as following his fighting career, the film also examines his path into the Nation of Islam, where he followed both Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, and where he dropped his birth name, which he now considered a slave name, for Muhammad Ali.

Considering how many documentaries and films have been made about Ali, you would have to have something pretty unique to be able to stand out from the crowd, which is sadly not the case for director Muta’Ali’s film.

It is a film that offers nothing by way of new insight into the life or career of this legendary boxer. Although its commentator’s are undeniably knowledgeable, it’s nothing we’ve not heard before.

There is an attempt for a more personal view, with a contribution from a young girlfriend, but ultimately adds nothing new to his story.

There is nothing either from any family members, and considering Ali had nine children, you imagine that at least one of them would have made for interesting contributions.

Perhaps the most fascinating contributor is Attallah Shabazz, one of the daughters of Malcolm X, who refers to Ali as her older brother. At least there’s a connection there, unlike a boxing commentator describing attending one of Ali’s fight as a youngster, which has its charm, but hardly groundbreaking.

Certainly the route into Ali’s religion is an interesting one, but again, it has been covered in detail elsewhere.

The film also ends somewhat abruptly, as if caught by an uppercut out of the blue that knock it out for the count.

There are, however, some great pictures and wonderful archive clips of Ali at his cheekiest, letting everyone know, in no uncertain terms, that he was the greatest. And there’s just no arguing with that.