Boxing icon Muhammad Ali died on Friday, a family spokesman said in a statement.
“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:
RIP to the GOAT Muhammad Ali! Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! pic.twitter.com/tWoWOFMRPH
— Chris Smoove (@Chris_Smoove) June 4, 2016
His may be the Greatest of 20th century American stories. Muhammad Ali, rest In peace 1942-2016
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) June 4, 2016
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – The Greatest, Muhammad Ali, R.I.P.
— Matt Harvey (@MattHarvey33) June 4, 2016
“I just wish people would love everybody else the way that they love me. It would be a better world.” -Muhammad Ali
— Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali dodges 21 punches in 10 seconds. #TheGreatest pic.twitter.com/EKyKFBNn84
— Meredith Frost (@MeredithFrost) June 4, 2016
Feature image: AFP