Boxing icon Muhammad Ali died on Friday, a family spokesman said in a statement.

b’A picture taken 26 May, 1965, in Lewiston, Maineduring the world heavyweight boxing championship, at the end of which the American Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) (C) won against his compatriot Sonny Liston (R). AFP’

“After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74,” spokesman Bob Gunnell said.

Ali, whose fame transcended sport during a remarkable heavyweight boxing career that spanned three decades, had been hospitalised in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with a respiratory ailment this week.

  • Won Olympic light-heavyweight gold in 1960
  • Turned professional that year and was world heavyweight champion from 1964 to 1967, 1974 to 1978 and 1978 to 1979
  • Had 61 professional bouts, winning 56 (37 knockouts, 19 decisions), and losing five (4 decisions, 1 retirement)

Here’s how Twitter is reacting to the sad news:

Feature image: AFP