Muhammad Ali, the eloquent, colorful, controversial and brilliant three-time heavyweight boxing champion who was known as much for his social conscience and staunch opposition to the Vietnam War as for his dazzling boxing skills, died Friday. Ali, who had a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, was taken to a Phoenix area hospital earlier this week where he was being treated for a respiratory issue. He was 74. Once the most outrageous trash talker in sports, he was largely muted for the last quarter century of his life, quieted by a battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Ali will be remembered as one of the most recognized figures worldwide — after winning boxing’s heavyweight title 3 different times … with the first coming in a KO of Sonny Liston in 1964.
He was as famous for his boxing matches — the “Rumble in the Jungle,” the “Thrilla in Manila” — as quotes like, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 … and will always hold the title of “The Greatest.”
Rest in Peace to the Legend
Muhammad Ali
1942-2016
