Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer passed away on Friday, at Phoenix, Arizona.
Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer, passed away on Friday, June 3, at a hospital in Phoenix.
Dubbed "The Greatest of all Time" and crowned the "King of Boxing", Muhammad Ali had the image of a maverick who not only boasted of his capabilities but backed his words with action. Predicting Archie Moore and Sonny Liston would go down in rounds 4 and 5 respectively, and he went on out to do it. Liston would go down in rounds 4 and 5 respectively, and he went on out to do it.
During the war in Vietnam, Muhammed Ali refused induction in the army. It was one of the iconic decisions by Ali that would see him lose his heavyweight championship belt, turn to a national enemy and again, a national hero.
Ali lived in Phoenix, Arizona with his fourth wife Yolanda Williams, who he had married in 1986.
The following are some of his most memorable fights. Go ahead and re-live the history that was made.
1. George Foreman, Kinshasa, 1974 - (The Rumble in the Jungle)
If boxing bouts ever had"classics", this would be on the top of the list. Everyone worried about the older Ali, since Foreman was just 25, but clearly nobody accounted for the experience of Ali. The fight, famously known as "The Rumble in the Jungle", ended in the eighth round and got Ali his championship back.
2. Joe Frazier, Manila, 1975 - (Thrilla in Manila)
This was the third of the instalments of fights between the long-time rivals Ali and Joe "Smokin' Joe" Frazier. Ali won by TKO in the fourteenth round.
3. Cleveland Williams, Houston, 1966
If technical acumen is considered, it is highly doubtful if any other fighter can beat Ali's boxing the night he toyed with Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams.
4. Sonny Liston, Miami, 1964
Cassius Clay, as Mohammad Ali was known then, entered the ring as an unranked boxer. Sports Illustrated called this "the fourth-greatest sports moment of the twentieth century".
5. Ken Norton, Yankee Stadium, New York City, 1976
Losing the first and winning the second, to Ken Norton, this was the third fight the duo had. It was dubbed as the fifth most disputed fight in boxing. Although it is accepted that Ali won, the United Press International scorecard was 8-7 for Norton.
6. Leon Spinks, Hilton Pavillion, Las Vegas, 1978
Although Ali had Spinks up against the ropes in the last round, the lack of practice probably led to one of the few losses in the champion's career.
7. Ernie Shavers, New York, 1977
At 35, it was a little too late for Ali to be going against of Shavers massive blows. Even though he survived the fight, it dealt long-term damage to Ali's health.
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 "Muhammad Ali v Richard Dunn")
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