Muhammad Ali, 1942-2016

Remembering Muhammad Ali

Remembering Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was the most transcendent sports figure in American culture.

The legend of Muhammad Ali

'The Greatest'

Obituary

'The Greatest'

Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight champion of hyperbole and showbiz as well as prizefighting, died at a hospital in the Phoenix area.

A thousand words

Remembrance

A thousand words

Robert Cassidy remembers his family’s encounters with Muhammad Ali: 'Dear Robbie, Your Daddy is the Greatest - Muhammad Ali.'

How Ali inspired a movement

How Ali inspired a movement

Nearly a half-century ago, Muhammad Ali was the object of vituperation and something close to hatred.

The world's champion

The world's champion

Muhammad Ali fought anywhere and everywhere across the globe, only to travel the world over again as an ambassador of goodwill.

Ali vs. Frazier

A brutal trilogy

Ali vs. Frazier

With the possible exception of David vs. Goliath, the greatest rivalry in the history of individual human combat was the three-fight trilogy staged by Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier from 1971 to 1975.

Fighter, activist, icon

Documentary

Fighter, activist, icon

Muhammad Ali may be the greatest boxer of all time, but that's just a small part of the impact he made on society as a whole. From his outspoken demeanor around boxing to his political views, from his converting to Islam to his refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali is a transcendent cultural figure.

Muhammad Ali’s funeral

He was and is the greatest

He was and is the greatest

Ali always will be recalled as a proud black man who changed his religion and name, risked his career on a divisive political stand then became a global ambassador for goodwill.

Clinton captures Ali's essence

Clinton captures Ali's essence

Bill Clinton was given the honor of the last words at Muhammad Ali's funeral, and he got them precisely right as he summed up a weeklong, global remembrance of the icon.

Rope-a-dope

Rope-a-dope

An MSG photographer gave Muhammad Ali the idea for the rope-a-dope style he used to beat George Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle.

'People's champ'

'People's champ'

Thousands mourned Muhammad Ali, a man who held Islam close to his heart, in a hometown service open to all faiths.

A golden age

A golden age

Boxing has faded to the point that there is no modern context to what Muhammad Ali was and did.

Muhammad Ali fight photos

The Thrilla in Manila

The Thrilla in Manila

After winning the final fight in his trilogy against Joe Frazier via TKO after the 14th round, Muhammad Ali said 'Closest thing to dying that I know of.'

Rumble in the Jungle

Rumble in the Jungle

Muhammad Ali debuted his rope-a-dope technique to knock out George Foreman and win back his heavyweight title on Oct. 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Fight of the Century

Fight of the Century

When Joe Frazier met Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, the storyline went much deeper than a title clash of two undefeated heavyweights.

Ali vs. Liston

Ali vs. Liston

Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was a 7-1 underdog when he beat Sonny Liston in Miami Beach on Feb. 25, 1964. Liston gave up after six rounds.

Ali vs. Norton

Ali vs. Norton

In their third fight, Muhammad Ali retained the title by winning a unanimous decision against Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 28, 1976.

Muhammad Ali’s life

The chronology of Ali's life

TIMELINE

The chronology of Ali's life

Born Cassius Clay in 1942, Muhammad Ali is many things to many people — social activist, cultural icon and the charismatic voice of the turbulent 1960s.

Muhammad Ali: A life in photos

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Muhammad Ali: A life in photos

Nicknamed 'The Greatest,' Muhammad Ali became a once-in-a-lifetime personality.

The master

Media

The master

Muhammad Ali was not the first athlete to understand and exploit modern media hype, but he was the greatest at it.

Ali's greatest victory

Impact

Ali's greatest victory

Muhammad Ali’s longest and most significant fight occurred outside the boxing ring.

Ali electrified the world

Opinion

Ali electrified the world

He was recognized in every country on every continent. And he electrified us all when he lit the torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Final fights

Recap

Final fights

Muhammad Ali had the opportunity to go out on his own terms at boxing’s pinnacle when he retired with the heavyweight title in 1978, but he couldn’t make it stick.

The world mourns Ali's passing

Grieving a great

The world mourns Ali's passing

See reactions to Ali's death from across the globe.

Ali's death marked on Twitter

Celebs remember

Ali's death marked on Twitter

Muhammad Ali's death drew responses from around the world of sports and beyond.