The international wires ran hot yesterday with the news that 71-year-old Muhammad Ali was losing his battle with Parkinson’s Disease. The greatest heavyweight boxing champion of all time has been a sufferer since 1984.
Family and close friends have denied the rumours, but where there’s smoke there’s fire.
There’s always been a raging debate as to where the Cassius Clay-born Ali stands in the pecking order of the greatest sportsmen to ever grace the earth.
For mine, he’s right up there with the likes of Jesse Owens, Rod Laver, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretsky, Michael Phelps, and, of course, The Don.
Six Kentucky, two national Golden Gloves, and a light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, beating Australian Tony Madigan in the semi by a close points decision, were the launching pads to a glittering 61 professional fight career with 56 wins 37 by knockout, 19 decisions, and just five losses to Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick.
Three of those losses were in Ali’s last four fights as the early signs of Parkinson’s Disease surfaced.
But Ali will be remembered for the two awesome back-to-back confrontations with Sonny Liston in 1964 and 1965, the “Fight of the Century” with Frazier in 1971, the “Rumble in the Jungle” with George Foreman in 1974, and the “Thrilla in Manila” with Frazier in 1975.
Each one of them were epics, which makes the current heavyweight division look like novices.
Ali will be remembered for not only his superb boxing ability, but also his showmanship and his high intelligence, born out by some of his quotes:
“I hated every minute of training, but I said to myself, “Don’t quit. suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”.
“Don’t count the days, make the days count”.
“Silence is golden when you can’t think of an answer”.
“Boxing is just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand, I beat people up”.
“Superman doesn’t need a seat-belt”.
“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are”.
And probably the most telling quote at this time.
“Live every day as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right”.
May that day be a long way away for Muhammad Ali.
David Adams
Guest
Muhammad Ali is definitely an icon in the boxing industry no matter what happens. In this way, you can try browsing http://www.muhammad-ali.co.uk for additional information about his achievements in this kind of sport.
Jeff Cook
Guest
enough said.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Gee I love the words of wisdom that emanate from this site. I particularly liked the post of Jo Epstein apart from his reference to Jo Louis. I really liked the repartee of the ensuing words that flowed from Steve and Jo, it was both highly entertaining and amusing. IMO Ali was the best boxer / fighter I have ever seen, he had it all, there has been no other that has been as good in the past nor will I ever see one in the future in my time I fear. In other divisions there have been some masters Sugar Ray Leonard I thought was great as were a few mexicans in the lighter weights but Ali was supreme for all the showmanship that he was and couldn't he back up what he said and how. Unlike a certain Chock that just recently versed Geale
Steve
Guest
Oh I'm sorry, I was joking on the assumption that you were a sports fan who was accidentally coming over as an overheated borderline pervert- now we all see that's what you actually are, I just feel insensitive. Nudity? OK- I'll just back away and leave you to it.
jo epstein
Guest
You do. Your nudity is so very exposed.
Steve
Guest
Actually, I quite enjoyed your hyperbole (melody of Beethoven!), but your Marciano comment is contemptible: the Marciano match was a farcical exhibition that never should have gone ahead; Louis had retired from Boxing and had to come back because of financial problems. Saying Louis lost to Marciano, and Marciano wasn't that great, is EXACTLY like saying Ali lost to Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick, neither of whom were anything special, therefore Ali wasn't any good. That would, of course, be a stupid thing to say, but it's based on exactly the same lines as your Marciano nonsense.
Cantab
Guest
Agreed
Steve
Guest
"A boxer who coalesced the art of Picasso or Vinci, melody of Beethoven, ballet of Nureyev or Baryshnikov, speed of Bolt, science of Einstein or Newton and possessed the most appealing physical specimen" Do you need a towel?
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Not in the same league as Blind Lemon Jefferson either, for that matter!
beardan
Guest
Sounds like a great talent. Still not in the same ballpark as don Bradman.
Australian Rules
Guest
The guy played professional baseball, basketball, football (Am) and won 2 Olympic gold medals in pentathlon and decathlon. Speaks for itself really.
beardan
Guest
How is that comment trolling you jibberer?
beardan
Guest
You didn't see him play. Very hard to judge a sportsman by history books with the exception of don Bradman. You're just throwing names out there to try and show what amazing knowledge you have to help hide the truth.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-PqasYEswc
sheek
Roar Guru
Trolling today beardan..........
sheek
Roar Guru
Oh seriously beardan, your gross ignorance is worn on your sleeve for all the world to see. Jim who indeed..........
Jo Epstein
Guest
I couldn't agree more. He is the greatest, full stop. Joe Louis would have been utterly humiliated by him. He was knocked out by Marciano, who, I'd regard as an inferior fighter to either Frazier or Foreman. And as far as Robinson is concerned, it's stupid to compare a boxer in the middleweight division to a heavyweight boxer who was indeed, much faster, more persistent and far more skillful than any boxer in the boxing history. And don't forget, no one could ever knock him out, not even the hardest hitters of all time including Frazier, Shavers or Foreman. Please use your brains to comprehend that the greatest sports personalities initiate something unique; the DON, to me the best ever batsman, wasn't an orthodox batsman, nor is Tendulkar. Nicklaus and Jordan weren't conventional either. Ali created a sport that was simply 'poetry in motion', divinely artful, dazzlingly rhythmic, blindingly fast and impeccably scientific. A boxer who coalesced the art of Picasso or Vinci, melody of Beethoven, ballet of Nureyev or Baryshnikov, speed of Bolt, science of Einstein or Newton and possessed the most appealing physical specimen, can only be compared to himself. He was 'the himself', who uniquely placed himself as 'the greatest'. There were sportsmen before him and there will be many in centuries to come, but rest assured he'd always be the most desirable yet 'unreachable star'.
beardan
Guest
If you have to tell everyone how great you are, it means you ain't the greatest. You don't see Lionel Messi telling everyone he is the greatest footballer on the planet, even though he is.
beardan
Guest
Jim who? Let's keep it real. The bloke probably had talent, but let's not pick names out of the middle of nowhere and compare them to Ali, Messi, Nicholas and Federer, please.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Anyone who saw Cassius Clay fights had no-one to compare him with. He was faster than anyone was, or has been, ever. Ali could pepper punch one-handed, then two-handed, with ease. He was so fast there were times he never got hit, standing flat-footed, mouthing off to the opponent, not using his hands for defence, just stood flat and moved his head or body. No heavyweight has done the same before of since. Ali was ( IS ) The Greatest!