He remains even in death the greatest, “the king of the world.” However, this imperfection or complication in marital life could not diminish his stature one bit. Ali had ended up not having a settled life even with four wives in tow at different points of his life. “For all his magic in the ring, he could be careless with words and full of contradictions as his faith evolved,” Obama observed. President Barack Obama said this much in a tribute. Like any other mortal, he had his own weaknesses. A biographer once described Ali as a victim of a sport that destroys its heroes.

The last great fight off the squared ropes he lost, medically, to an affliction (Parkinson’s) that has been with him for decades. That essence is and would ever remain a reference point in boxing and global sport history.Īs he finally departs today, following his 61 fights with a shining record 56 wins, five losses and 37 knock outs, he has definitely left the mark as the first to win the heavies three times. To capture the essence of Muhammad Ali in a short space then is to do injustice to his life and times. Long before he announced himself to the world with his victory over Sonny Liston as a 22-year-old challenger in 1964, declaring himself The Greatest at the heavyweight world title fight, or even his first professional fight in October 1960 against Tunney Hunsaker, the ‘Loiusville Lip’ (famous for having plenty to say) had a focus: to be the superstar in his own galaxy. Boxing great Muhammad Ali who has just died aged 74 was the hand that fitted the gloves – unique, supremely gifted and arrestingly good looking.

The great muhammad ali