When Cassius Clay boasted “I am the greatest,” in 1963 he wasn’t even the world heavyweight boxing champion, but few would dare to argue against the statement.
Yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona, Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay) died from respiratory failure aged 74, ending a charismatic lifetime where the majority of sports fans around the world would readily agree he was indeed the greatest.
He was the boxing equivalent of Don Bradman in cricket, Rod Laver in tennis, Michael Phelps in swimming, Michael Jordan in basketball, Jack Nicklaus in golf, Wayne Gretzky in ice hockey, and Kelly Slater in surfing.
Yet this superb athlete spent the latter half of his life suffering debilitating Parkinson’s Disease – he didn’t deserve to suffer so much.
It would take a column longer than “War and Peace” to do justice to the life of Muhammad Ali – three times world heavyweight boxing champion, four times married with seven sons, and two daughters.
The Melbourne Cup stops the nation on the first Tuesday in November, but whenever Muhammad Ali fought he stopped the world.
Countless thousands of men and boys around the globe called in sick to stay at home to watch him live on television – that was a given.
There are three stunning highlights that will live in my memory – the Rumble in the Jungle, the Thrilla in Manilla, and lighting the Olympic Games cauldron.
The Rumble was Ali’s eighth round knock out in 1974 of defending champion George Foreman in Zaire that was fought at 3am to slot in with prime time television in the USA – Don King’s first promotion.
The Thrilla was in 1975 against Joe Frazier, that ended in a TKO at the end of the 14th round with Frazier a bloodied mess.
And lighting the cauldron at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta with his left arm shaking and his body trembling from Parkinson’s Disease, yet the great man had the courage to get the job done – it was numbing to watch.
His quotes over the years have been cemented in folklore – here’s a small sample:
“Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up.”
“I’ve seen George Foreman shadow box, and the shadow won.”
“If you even dream of beating me you had better wake up and apologise.”
“I’m young, I’m handsome, and I’m fast – I can’t possibly be beat.”
“I float like a butterfy and sting like a bee, your hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.”
“I’m the most recognised and loved man on earth.”
And to close, I’ll let Muhammad Ali have the last prophetic say.
“Live everyday as if it were your last because one day you’re going to be right.”
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