Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest of All Time”, passed away in a Phoenix area hospital from respiratory complications Friday night. He was 74 years old.
“After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening,” said Bob Gunnell, a family spokesman.
Ali checked into the hospital on Thursday in fair condition but on Friday his health worsened. He had been battling Parkinson’s Disease for over three decades.
Born Cassius Clay, Ali converted to Islam and changed his name in 1964. During his boxing career he amassed an incredible record of 56 wins, 5 losses and 37 knockouts against legendary fighters like Sonny Liston.
Ali’s fights were as famous as the boxer himself. “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the “Thrilla in Manila” and his quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” have all become household names.
In addition to boxing, Ali was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War during a time when sports figures weren’t known to speak out on political means. He was eventually arrested and found guilty of draft evasion, resulting in him being stripped of his boxing title. He didn’t fight for almost four years during a time the fighter was in his prime. Ali appealed the conviction and the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court were the conviction was overturned.
He is one of the most recognized sports figures in the past 100 years, being crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Sports Personality of the Century” by the BBC. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.
In 1996 Ali lit the torch during the 1996 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in what would become one of the most memorable sporting events of the 20th century.
“As a boxer, he became The Greatest, though his most lasting victories happened outside the ring. Muhammad leveraged his fame as a platform to promote peace, justice and humanitarian efforts around the world, while always keeping strong ties to his hometown,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement. “Today, Muhammad Ali’s fellow Louisvillians join the billions whose lives he touched worldwide in mourning his passing, celebrating his legacy, and committing to continue his fight to spread love and hope.”
Ali is survived by his wife Yolanda Williams and nine children.
