The Greatest

[Chris Jameson]

Only interest I had in boxing as a kid was Ali through his fights and appearance on chat shows. The only sportsman who I've read up on and bought countless biographies, amazing character and sportsman. Wonder how many first became aware of Islam through Ali?

The Greatest.

[thick_mike]

One person who really did "know what you are".

Greatest sportsman of all time?  I can't think of one better.

We've done this before. It's Bradman. By a mile.

But, Ali was the greatest boxer. You forget how fast he was, they just showed him finishing off a British boxer called London. He must've thrown about twenty punches in two seconds.

Some fighter.

I think to define Ali as merely a sportsman is to miss the point completely. He was much more than a brilliant boxer.

[peter w]

Lucky enough to remember him in the late 70a and even then I was aware of the magnitude of the man. He transcended life like only the very few - Martin Luther King, Adolf Hitler, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein - and he has been sorely missed for many years. I usually detest the fall out from cynical TV producers when a celebrity dies but I'm going to 'enjoy' the next few days and weeks.

[tomd2103]

Transcended his sport to become one of the most well known people on the planet.  Saying that, it has to be remembered that he was a brilliant boxer first and foremost.

[dave.woodhall]

There's not much that hasn't been said already. The greatest. And then some.

[UK Redsox]

I think to define Ali as merely a sportsman is to miss the point completely. He was much more than a brilliant boxer.

"I'll tell you how I'd like to be remembered: As a black man who won the heavyweight title - Who has humorous and who never looked down on those who looked up to him - A man who stood for freedom, justice and equality - And I wouldn't even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was." - Muhammad Ali

Is that the correct quote ? I've seen a couple of variations this morning

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

TRUE LEGEND, SUPERB BOXER, BRILLIANT ENTERTAINER, WONDERFUL AND CLASSY.R.I.P

[thick_mike]

Lucky enough to remember him in the late 70a and even then I was aware of the magnitude of the man. He transcended life like only the very few - Martin Luther King, Adolf Hitler, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein - and he has been sorely missed for many years. I usually detest the fall out from cynical TV producers when a celebrity dies but I'm going to 'enjoy' the next few days and weeks.

That's exactly the sort of company he should be discussed in relation to, add Ang San Su Kii, Stephen Hawkin, Jimi Hendrix, Mother Teresa... Paul Weller ( )

[andyh]

There's not much that hasn't been said already. The greatest. And then some.

Perfectly put.

One of my favourite quotes from him
'If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologise'.

A true hero.

[cdbearsfan]

I'm so fast when I flip the light, I'm in bed before the room gets dark.

[UK Redsox]

I'm so fast when I flip the light, I'm in bed before the room gets dark.

Did Ali say that about himself?

That was also a comment by Satchel Paige about Cool Papa Bell

[UK Redsox]

Lucky enough to remember him in the late 70a and even then I was aware of the magnitude of the man. He transcended life like only the very few - Martin Luther King, Adolf Hitler, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein - and he has been sorely missed for many years. I usually detest the fall out from cynical TV producers when a celebrity dies but I'm going to 'enjoy' the next few days and weeks.

I'll be interested to see/hear from Trump

[Brend'Watkins]

One person who really did "know what you are".

Greatest sportsman of all time?  I can't think of one better.

We've done this before. It's Bradman. By a mile.

But, Ali was the greatest boxer. You forget how fast he was, they just showed him finishing off a British boxer called London. He must've thrown about twenty punches in two seconds.

Some fighter.

Greatest boxer without any doubt and greatest sportsman in my book too.  Bradman as brilliant as he was is only relevant to the cricketing world.  His name would hardly register in mainland Europe, China, The far east, Russia, America and so on....Ali would be known the world over and quite rightly so.

[Monty]

Bradman was the best, but Ali was the greatest.

[darren woolley]

RIP Champ