RIP Muhammad Ali: Why legacy of ‘The Greatest’ will never die

I and many others here in Britain woke up on Saturday morning to the inevitable yet sad news that Muhammad Ali had passed away at the age of 74.

Former world heavyweight champion Ali had long since been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which left him a frail shell of the brash, outspoken, elite athlete that transcended not only boxing but sport as a whole.

When news broke that Ali was hospitalised with respiratory issues this week, an entire planet simultaneously braced themselves for one of the saddest yet in a spate of high-profile deaths in 2016.

Unfortunately - at least in the general sense, yet fortunately for a man who had suffered enough over recent years - it didn’t take long before the hospital stay concluded, and was confirmed as his last.

Quite frankly, I do not feel anywhere near worthy of attempting to obit the career of a man whom athletes in even the 22nd and 23rd centuries and beyond will read about and model themselves after. I’m pretty certain boxing writers, mainstream broadcasters and even those who were close to him are also harbouring doubts of their own regarding doing Ali’s legacy justice with words alone.

Needless to say, Ali will forever be remembered as the man who popularised ‘trash talking’; an athlete who took baseball legend Babe Ruth’s infamous ‘called shot in game three of the 1932 World Series to a whole new level by predicting the round in which he’d defeat an opponent multiple times; a polarising figure who challenged the very core of religious and political boundaries in the 20th century; a boxer who inspired dozens of others to escape a life of crime and find direction via the gym and the ring; and finally, but most importantly, the single most awe-inspiring thing to emerge from a business with its fair share of heartbreak.

Ali’s passing here in 2016 is boxing’s latest heartbreak, but none of us can deny for a single second that it wasn’t worth the ride. And that’s probably exactly how the former Cassius Clay wanted to hang up the gloves of life, even back when he was “watching the girls go by” in Louisville as a young wannabe.

I’ll leave you with a few thoughts on my favourite Ali fights, quotes and moments. Please feel free to add yours in the comments section below.

My top three Ali bouts

3. vs Sonny Liston, February 25 1964 - Clay (as he was still known) in this bout began the genesis of Muhammad Ali, building up his maiden world title challenge by constantly taunting Liston, primarily with the infamous ‘big ugly bear’ jibe. Liston at the time came across as an unstoppable monster, and 7/1 underdog Clay appeared to be writing a cheque he couldn’t clash. However, unlike many of the big talkers in today’s sport, Cassius overcame a sizeable beating and gave back to Liston to the point where the defending titlist did not emerge for round seven. One of sport’s great upsets had occurred.

2. vs Henry Cooper, June 18 1963 - prior to the Liston upset, Clay’s reputation had been building and he ventured outside the United States for the first time as a professional boxer to take on beloved British icon Cooper at Wembley Stadium. Local fans thought their man had toppled the ‘next big thing’ with his brutal trademark ‘Henry’s Hammer’ left hook, only for the bell to save Clay at the end of round four, giving him enough time to collect himself and finish off the home hope just two minutes and 15 seconds later, in round five. For Brits alive at the time, this was a huge night in boxing and made stories passed down to younger fight fans such as myself sound nothing short of enchanting. When I finally got to watch it for myself, I wasn’t disappointed.

1. vs George Foreman, October 30 1974 - The ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, the ‘rope-a-dope’ and the trip to Kinshasa, Zaire in general do not need much introduction. Films, books and a lifetime of constant mainstream references speak more volumes for this fight’s legacy than I ever could here. Arguably THE most iconic meeting between two professional boxers of all time, this also pitted a man forever regarded as ‘The Greatest’ against a man in Foreman who would become my favourite boxer of all time, mostly due to his world title comeback win at 45 (which I was alive to watch) and the way he made more money post-retirement than he ever did as a boxer, thanks to the George Foreman Grill. Both men would go on to inspire so many. And in 1974, they inspired the world together.

10 Seminal Muhammad Ali quotes

“Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee, your hands can’t hit, what your eyes can’t see.”

“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.”

“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.”

“I am so fast that last night I turned off the light switch and was in bed before the room was dark.”

“It will be a killer and a chiller and a thriller when I get the gorilla in Manila.”

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.”

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'”

“I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky, my name not yours. My religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.”

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

“Live every day like it’s your last because someday you’re going to be right.”