He floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee. The three-time world heavyweight champion was not just the greatest boxer, but perhaps also the greatest sportsman of all time. He was an anti-war activist who lost his title and three years of his prime for refusing to fight in Vietnam. A proud warrior in the battle against racism, he rejected his 'slave name' Cassius Clay and embraced Islam. Blessed with a razor-sharp wit, he was as good with words as he was with his fists. Of his 61 fights, he lost just five but his most dogged battle was with Parkinson's, the disease that slowed down his dancing feet and his silver tongue but not his spirit. As for how he should be remembered, Ali said it best himself: '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'
Los Angeles, Jun 4: Muhammad Ali, the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion who helped define his turbulent times as the most charismatic and controversial sports figure of the 20th century, died on Friday in a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 74.
Ali was the most thrilling if not the best heavyweight ever, carrying into the ring a physically lyrical, unorthodox boxing style that fused speed, agility and power more seamlessly than that of any fighter before him.
But he was more than the sum of his athletic gifts. An agile mind, a buoyant personality, a brash self-confidence and an evolving set of personal convictions fostered a magnetism that the ring alone could not contain.
Ali was as polarising a superstar as the sports world has ever produced — both admired and vilified in the 1960s and '70s for his religious, political and social stances. His refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War, his rejection of racial integration at the height of the civil rights movement, his conversion from Christianity to Islam and the changing of his “slave” name, Cassius Clay, to one bestowed by the separatist black sect he joined, the Lost-Found Nation of Islam, were perceived as serious threats by the conservative establishment and noble acts of defiance by the liberal opposition.
In later life Ali became something of a secular saint, a legend in soft focus even as he struggled with Parkinson's disease.
He was respected for having sacrificed more than three years of his boxing prime and untold millions of dollars for his anti-war principles after being banished from the ring; he was extolled for his unselfconscious gallantry in the face of incurable illness, and he was beloved for his accommodating sweetness in public.
That passive image was far removed from the exuberant, talkative, vainglorious 22-year-old who bounded out of Louisville, Kentucky, and onto the world stage in 1964 with an upset victory over Sonny Liston to become the world champion. Over 21 years, he won 56 fights and lost five.
After retiring from the ring, Ali made speeches emphasising spirituality, peace and tolerance, and undertook quasi-diplomatic missions to Africa and Iraq. Product and corporate endorsements brought him closer to the “show me the money” sensibilities of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, the heirs to his global celebrity.
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He is a inspiration to every one. He died in great day. May Allah (swt) grant him Jennathul Firdouse and Give patient to his family member. Aameen..
CD please also say ..his one of the daugtor married Israeli and embraced Judaism and his grand children vowed allegiance to Zionism i.e toMr ali attended that event in Jewish synagogue .he was not anti war activists ..cd misquoted it .he was reluctant to join christian army of USA .he openly said he would fight if his army of mujahidin .please also say his 5 daughters married non Muslims and he is a avid pork eater.he is ofcourse one of the greatest fighter of all time ..jihadist na urisilikke heliddu ee matter galanna .rip classius clay
Inna lillahi wainna ilaihi rrajihoon
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi raajioun We Pray with almighty Allah For BOXING KING GREATEST LEGEND MUHAMMAD ALI..... for his MAGHFIRATH AND TO BLESS HIM WITH JANNAATHUL FIRDOSUS AMEEN
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon...
\The Greatest in Boxing\"...Inna Lillahi Va Inna Ilahirrajoon\""
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. Indeed *muhammad ali* was a legendry boxing champion and a greatest and finest sportsperson & an icon, the world has ever seen. He was a greatest human being, rendering best humanitarian service to the blacks of america, africa & world in particular and all the lesser privileged ones of the world in general. The greatest boxer of all times with never say die attitude. Flying like a butter fly and stinging like a bee was his famous positive attitude. Ali booma ye., ali booma ye, this was the slogan chanted by the crowd during his rumble in jungle in kinshasha/zaire during one of his historic flight against george foreman. His thriller in manila against joe frazier was one of his best. Born as classius clay, he accepted islam immediately after defeating sonny liston, as his strong faith with the almighty allah & the relegion of islam. One of his ardent fans, who used follow all his fights with due respect to him and sports, sincerely i pray with almighty allah for his maghfirah(forgive) and to bless him with jannaathul firdous(supreme heaven). His death is indeed a great loss to boxing world., sporting world and humanity in general. May almighty give patience, strength
& forebearance to his family members, near & dear ones and all his fans, to bear the brunt of bereavement.
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