Muhammad Ali: Boxing legend dies aged 74

[wino]

• 7 minutes ago

Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a family spokesman has said.

The former world heavyweight boxing champion, one of the world's best-known sportsmen, died at a hospital in the US city of Phoenix in Arizona state after being admitted on Thursday.

He was suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson's disease.

The funeral will take place in Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, his family said in a statement.

Obituary: Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali in his own words

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Ali shot to fame by winning light-heavyweight gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Nicknamed "The Greatest", the American beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to win his first world title and became the first boxer to capture a world heavyweight title on three separate occasions.

He eventually retired in 1981, having won 56 of his 61 fights.

The former heavyweight champion was suffering from respiratory problems


Crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC, Ali was noted for his pre- and post-fight talk and bold fight predictions just as much as his boxing skills inside the ring.

But he was also a civil rights campaigner and poet who transcended the bounds of sport, race and nationality.

Asked how he would like to be remembered, he once said: "As a man who never sold out his people. But if that's too much, then just a good boxer. I won't even mind if you don't mention how pretty I was."

Ali turned professional immediately after the Rome Olympics and rose through the heavyweight ranks, delighting crowds with his showboating, shuffling feet and lightning reflexes.

British champion Henry Cooper came close to stopping Clay, as he was still known, when they met in a non-title bout in London in 1963.

Cooper floored the American with a left hook, but Clay picked himself up off the canvas and won the fight in the next round when a severe cut around Cooper's left eye forced the Englishman to retire.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali dies aged 74 - BBC News

 

[Béla Kiss]

Guess it's a good thing Maryum finished her role in 60 Days In before her pops kicked the bucket.

 

[deviant2]

'bout time...

 

[msr]

 

[mrln]

he was fun to watch. i remember seeing him as a kid.

 

[Wolf]

A fighter to the end. RIP

 

[Mr Robot]

he was fun to watch. i remember seeing him as a kid.

I watched him fight Larry Holmes it was the only fight of his i saw i was 11.

 

[snatch]

float like a butterfly
sting like a bee

 

[deviant2]

...my bad wino. That was rude of me.
He was damned amazing.
Blessings to his family.

 

[Totentanz]

My father proudly displays a photo of Joe Fraizer knocking Ali down to the mat. I grew up being taught about these legends. Those men were real boxers and extremely courageous. People will be watching their fights for many years to come.

 

[Nex]

When asked how he would like to be remembered, apparently he replied: "As a man who never sold out his people. But if that's too much, then just a good boxer. I won't even mind if you don't mention how pretty I was."

 

[Wayne Kerr]

 

[Vita Von Dahmer]

...my bad wino. That was rude of me.
He was damned amazing.
Blessings to his family.

You're not rude,I thought he died years ago,fuck it.

 

[Vita Von Dahmer]

'bout time...

Wino,she didn't know better.She receives my un- official pass. Cuz I didn't know either.

 

[deviant2]

...my un-offical thanks to you Vita

 

[Vita Von Dahmer]

...my un-offical thanks to you Vita

My un official your welcome.

 

[OneSickOne]

The greatest of all time. There has never been another heavyweight that had his combination of speed and power. His hand speed was incredible.

 

[AmericanBoobeh]

I think Joe Louis was the greatest heavyweight ever, but Ali was certainly 1A. Louis had a better record 66-3 to Ali's 56-5, and his 25 title defenses record will probably never be broken..

 

[Mr Robot]

The greatest of all time. There has never been another heavyweight that had his combination of speed and power. His hand speed was incredible.

The only one who even comes close is Mike Tyson he won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout 12 of them in the 1st round.

 

[mrln]

The only one who even comes close is Mike Tyson he won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout 12 of them in the 1st round.

and then he helped tarnish the sport. along with that other n-word don fuckingscumbagasshole king. now he's a fat fuck..... no,i still wouldn't want to be hit from him. but he's no longer intimidating looking like he once was. but your right. ill never take the talent he once had,away from him.