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THERE HAS BEEN an outpouring of grief, admiration and respect for legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, who passed away last night at the age 0f 74.
Sportspeople, former opponents, politicians from both sides of the political divide, activists pundits and others have all paid their respect to the man who called himself “The Greatest” and lived up to the title throughout his life.
The boxers
Ali’s former opponent George Foreman – whom he fought in the iconic Rumble in the Jungle fight for the title in 1974 – called the former champion “the greatest piece” of him and “one of the greatest human beings I’ve met”.
Mike Tyson called Ali “the great one” and paid his respects to the champ.
Floyd Mayweather, a world champion in boxing who retired last year undefeated, paid a strong tribute to Ali on his Instagram page – thanking him for all he had done for the lives of black people in America.
“Today my heart goes out to a pioneer, a true legend, and a hero by all means,” said Mayweather.
Your charisma, your charm and above all, your class are all of the elements that will be greatly missed by myself and the world.
You are someone that inspired me greatly throughout my boxing journey and words cannot express how great you were as a person!
Thank you for everything you’ve done for Black America, in the the world of sports & entertainment and for the legacy you leave behind!
Retired Irish boxer Barry McGuigan said that the world had lost “the greatest sportsman that ever lived”.
The politicians
Irish president Michael D Higgins led the political tributes in Ireland to Ali.
“The passing of Muhammad Ali will have been heard with the greatest sadness by Irish people of all generations,” he said.
Many will remember the wit, grace and beauty he brought to boxing and some will recall his visits to Ireland.
All over the world people also flocked to hear him offer his view on the achievement of democracy and particularly equal rights when they were so strikingly missing in some of the richest countries of the world.
He will be missed not only by his close friends and family but by those who heard him and were influenced by him, all over the world.
Enda Kenny tweeted a message about Ali, saying that he inspired numerous generations.
Meanwhile, US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has tweeted a message saying that Ali would be “missed by all”.
On the other side of the divide, former US president Bill Clinton issued a statement commending the growth from the “brash self-confidence of youth” to a man of strong religious and political convictions.
Along the way we saw him courageous in the ring, inspiring to the young, compassionate to those in need, and strong and good-humoured in bearing the burden of his own health challenges.
Civil-rights leader the Reverend Al Sharpton said that Ali was and always will be “the greatest”.
Ali, he was and always will be the greatest. A true champion in and out of the ring.
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“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.” The Oscar Wilde of the boxing world could be profound as well as glib “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” I cried my eyes out when Frazier beat him in ’71 and screamed with joy as he bounced off the ropes to beat Foreman in ’74 Thanks for all the moments RIP
Muhammad Ali, the Showman: “I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark.”
Muhammad Ali, the hero to a generation: “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
Muhammad Ali, the man: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
There will never another like him… RIP
He was a racist. He addressed a meeting of the kkk agreeing with their stance against interracial marriage
Patrick go back to bed…You’ll never get to his level of greatness…not even when you dream.
He was a racist though. Pretend he was not though
“Racial Purist”, then, maybe, rather than “Racist”, because I think we all tend to associate the term “Racist” with hatred.
He refused to be drafted to the Vietnam War.
He took the name of the Prophet Mohammed, (Peace Be Upon Him), a name which it is fashionable to bash and insult these days
He had friends from all walks of life. The one thing he didn’t agree with was mixed race marriage. That was the time he lived in. He may have a different opinion now if this was his era . The world is forever changing.
Correct Patrick…he was bigoted, racist, sexist and segregationist. But he was a great fighter so let’s hold him up as a global icon…
Ya it’s all stories about Islam , all those in Brussels choked on a few chocolates and in France wine was corked.
Red thumb all you want…Ali didn’t “protest” the war…he wasn’t out there on the picket lines, he wasn’t a spokesman, he became Muslim simply to avoid the draft. He met with and agreed with the KKK regarding segregation of the races. Check out his treatment of Joe Frazier, who he considered an Uncle Tom. He was racist, bigoted, sexist and segregationist…all facts. He did nothing to advance race relations and he was a draft dodger…not because he disagreed with the war, but because he thought he was above being drafted. International icon my arse!
Floats like a butterfly,stings like a bee,his hands can’t his hit what his eyes cant see
Legend.
2016 strikes again.
Death was the only thing that was ever going to put him down..r.i.p.
Floyd Mayweather talking about charisma, charm and class- irony alert! R.I.P. Muhammad Ali, a real champion and a real legend.
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