WATCH: Boxing great Muhammad Ali dies aged 74
A spokesman for the family confirmed his death to the media
FORMER world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali has died, aged 74.
According to media reports a spokesman for the family confirmed that Ali died at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona in the USA after he was admitted on Thursday.
He was suffering from a respiratory illness complicated by Parkinson’s disease.
Ali is one of the world’s best known sportsmen and was aptly nicknamed ‘The Greatest’.
He beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to clinch his first world title at the age of 22 and went to become the first boxer to capture a world heavyweight title on three separate occasions.
When he retired in 1981, his record stood at 56 wins in 61 fights.
Among his achievements:
- Olympic light-heavyweight gold medal winner 1960
- Went professional in the same year and was world heavyweight champion from 1964 to 1967, 1974 to 1978 and 1978 to 1979
- During his 61 professional fights, he won 56 (37 knockouts, 19 decisions) and lost five (4 decisions and 1 retirement)
It would take seven years before Ali lost a professional fight, being defeated by Joe Frazier in what was dubbed the ‘Fight of the Century in New York on 8 March 1971.
He regained his title three years later on 30 October 1974 with the knockout of George Foreman in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in Kinshasa in the DRC.
Ali was also well known for using the sporting platform to express his political views, drawing criticism from fellow Americans when he spoke out against the Vietnam war and refused to be conscripted into the army.
He was stripped of his world title and boxing license, only reemerging in the ring four years later.
