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Los Angeles, United States | AFP |
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 hospitalized in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with a respiratory ailment this week.
Concern for the three-time heavyweight world champion had grown throughout Friday amid reports that his respiratory trouble was complicated by the Parkinson’s that had left the fighter called “The Greatest” increasingly frail.
Known globally not only for his storied ring career but also for his civil rights activism, Ali had been hospitalized multiple times in recent years.
‘I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was’ – https://t.co/mg448WCrSj #MuhammedAli #RIP pic.twitter.com/4dKZnAnlFO
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) June 4, 2016
He was and will always be the Greatest Rest in Peace #MuhammadAli
— henry rugamba (@henruga) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali, the greatest sportsman of all time, the man who transcended his sport, the greatest showman of all, dies at 74
— Victor Kara (@vkaramagi) June 4, 2016
Quite a week this one. Float like a butterfly in heaven #AliBomaye #Uganda https://t.co/x5UukmCMhM
— Angelo Izama (@Opiaiya) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali with Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, in Congo & in Zaire. Rest In Power! ✊? pic.twitter.com/Y1QjZxIBZh
— Vohandas Vidya (@vohandas) June 4, 2016
RIP Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay – World Heavyweight Champion. He showed the world in no uncertain terms that black was Strong Smart Handsome
— Maggie Kigozi (@KigoziMaggie) June 4, 2016
BREAKING: All-time boxing great Muhammad Ali passes away at age 74. https://t.co/YCzDQgTmY7 pic.twitter.com/VRTUFOnLuf
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 4, 2016
RIP, Muhammad Ali. Outspoken but rarely outfought. #FloatLikeAButterflyStingLikeABee
— Robert Madoi (@robertmadoi) June 4, 2016
@Jadwong Oh dear. May his soul rest in eternal peace. @YahooSports
— kiryowa kiwanuka (@KiryowaKk) June 4, 2016
What news for the morning. #MohammedAli was truly great across all peoples and nations and today his #Rumble goes on!
— Vincent Mugaba (@vmugaba) June 4, 2016
Indeed you have died a champion. R.I.P Muhammad Ali. pic.twitter.com/DJmXKZYkWT
— Tracy Gwambe (@TheTrayci) June 4, 2016
…Victorious. Dominant! One of the Most Iconic Pictures Of All Time. #MuhammadAli #GreatestOfAllTime #OneOfAKind pic.twitter.com/mE0HTtyNOj
— OPP (@patrickoyulu) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali was DEFIANCE personified.
— King Godiva (@amgodiva) June 4, 2016
“The service you do for other is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” — Muhammad Ali pic.twitter.com/6AzhUZFI39
— Calestous Juma (@calestous) June 4, 2016
#Champion #Superstar #Icon -the superlatives are almost inadequate.But wait,there’s #THE GREATEST! #RIP #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/QrMtw10eqV
— Ivan Rugambwa (@ivanbfa) June 4, 2016
The death of legendary boxer @MuhammadAli has robbed the sporting world of an icon. May his soul RIP. pic.twitter.com/vchU8OKBgy
— William Samoei Ruto (@WilliamsRuto) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali appreciation Thread coming up…#RIPAli
— Patoranking (@pyepar) June 4, 2016
‘Millennials’ will wonder who this is …. pic.twitter.com/M8gOneE5j7
— Kezio-Musoke David (@kezio_musoke) June 4, 2016
Mohammed Ali THE GREATEST. For ever the Greatest . Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/JiHLNRT09r
— Iryn Namubiru (@irynnamubiru) June 4, 2016
To the greatest boxer there ever was…Muhammad Ali. Rest in peace Champ. pic.twitter.com/gS4m4IXU16
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, visited me at State House Entebbe on November 29, 1988. pic.twitter.com/D4QRNnVkWo
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) June 5, 2016
Ali epitomized many things in his life but his discipline, determination and defence of the marginalized, among other qualities stood out.
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) June 5, 2016
He was a revolutionary in his own right, who accomplished a lot even in the face of great challenges. May his soul rest in peace.
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) June 5, 2016
He spent time in hospital in 2014 after suffering a mild case of pneumonia and again in 2015 for a urinary tract infection.
His Parkinson’s, thought to be linked to the thousands of punches he took during a brutal career studded by bruising battles inside the ropes, had limited his public speaking for years.
But he continued to make appearances and offer opinions through his family members and spokespeople.
In April, he attended a Celebrity Fight Night Dinner in Phoenix that raised funds for treatment of Parkinson’s.
In December, he issued a statement rebuking US presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
“Muhammad Ali transformed this country and impacted the world with his spirit,” said longtime boxing promoter Bob Arum. “His legacy will be part of our history for all time.”
READ: World celebrates Ali, public funeral set for Louisville on Friday ON PAGE 2
