I guess we have to wait another 30 years before we see how Jordan fares in popularity. Of course in his prime Ali was the most recognizable man on the planet, but as you said it's been 40 years and now maybe not so much. He still remains a polarizing figure for all that he was, but at the current time Michael Jordan is more recognizable to more generations than Muhammad Ali. Don't let Ali's political stances, trump everything else. Mike's global effect was much more profound from a stylistic, sports culture and financial standpoint.
You really can't minimize the global effect Michael Jordan had on the entire culture of not just basketball but sport in general. Most of that can be attributable to Nike and their brilliant character/brand campaign over the time of Jordan's career. They brought the world to attention of Jordan, and all he had to do during that time was perform to the level of being considered the greatest basketball player of all time, basically live up to what was promised.
During that time Michael's style of wearing his uniform for his personal comfort ended up being a staple of how uniforms are designed and worn by players all over the world today at all levels, 25 years after his prime. The bald headded, long baggy shorts swagger that became seen everywhere on players from youth to the pros in the 90s - 2000s. Why? Because it was cool. Why was it cool? Because the greatest of all-time with all the flair grace and dominance during his time did it that way. Why do stars on most basketball teams have the number 23 on their jerseys, including the current greatest B-ball player in the world. Because that was Michael Jordan's number. The cultural effects on all facets of basketball, has carried over to other sports we see today as well. Over the last 20 years Jordan has become a literal financial juggarnaught spanning the globe. It's called the Jordan Brand. And this is a real thing, sponsored by Nike. Youth and interscholastic, professional sports clamor for the Jordan "Jumpman" gear, from baseball to soccer to football, BOXING and many more. Because of that, Michael Jordan and his likeness is recognizable all over the world this very day. He is a world figure in every sense of the definition.
If you don't think basketball is a global sport then you clearly just don't know the sport at all. And that's fine, it's not or hasn't been your thing. It's the number one sport in MANY major countries around the world (13).
Saying Michael Jordan was just a basketball player is extremely naive.
Oh and for the OP; Roy Jones Jr was probably the closest thing to Michael Jordan in his prime, he did amazing things no ne else in the sport could do in a dominating fashion and with style and brashness. Oh and guess what, he wore Jordan Jumpman gear...