Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest boxers who ever lived, has died aged 74.
Ali, who had valiantly battled with Parkinson’s disease for 32 years, passed away after complications arising from a respiratory problem.
The People’s Champion produced myriad wonderful moments in an illustrious career. His charisma, in and out of the ring, helped make him a boxing legend.
Below are five of the fights that cemented his legacy.
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ALI vs JOE FRAZIER – THE THRILLER IN MANILA (1975)
Having lost the first fight and won the second installment of boxing’s greatest heavyweight trilogy, Ali claimed overall victory in a gruelling fight in Manila. Ali described the beating he took by Frazier during the fight as “the closest thing to death” he had experienced but he picked himself up and handed out three brutal rounds in 12, 13 and 14. Frazier’s trainer would not let him out for the 15th.
ALI vs GEORGE FOREMAN – RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE (1974)
At seven years the junior of Ali, undefeated Foreman was the favourite to take home the victory in Kinshasa, Zaire (now DR Congo). Sure enough, Foreman came out to attack, with Ali favouring a counter-punching approach that quickly saw his opponent tire. In the eighth round, Ali went in for the kill and a quickfire combination left Foreman on the ground. He couldn’t get to his feet, much to the delight of a partisan crowd who has been backing Ali from the start.
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ALI vs SONNY LISTON – MIAMI (1964)
Then just a cocky young upstart called Cassius Clay, it was ahead of this fight that he coined the famous phrase “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” at a weigh in that journalists at the time said “defied belief”. Liston was expected to put Clay in his place but the loudmouth from Louisville demonstrated superior speed and at the end of the seventh round, retired and handed over the world heavyweight championship.
ALI vs JOE FRAZIER – NEW YORK (1974)
Ali levelled the series at 1-1 with a points victory in New York. Frazier had lost his world title to George Foreman and was determined to make his mark while Ali, too, was looking for redemption after infamously dodging military service in Vietnam. Ali left Frazier dazed in round two and in an attritional contest emerged victorious on the judges’ decision.
ALI vs EARNIE SHAVERS – NEW YORK (1977)
Coming towards the end of his career (though he still had one world heavyweight title left in him), Ali was predicted to struggle against Shavers, a notoriously powerful puncher. Once again though, Ali defied expectations – after being badly hurt in the second he showed great resilience to take the fight the distance. Ali appeared exhausted in the final round but summoned a final flurry that sealed a points victory.
