the great boxer of all time mohammed ali dies at 74

Muhammad Ali, three -time champion of boxing heavy weight eloquent , colorful, controversial and brilliant was known both for his social conscience and fierce opposition to the Vietnam War and for its dazzling boxing skills , died Friday. Ali , who had a long battle with Parkinson's disease , was taken to a hospital in the Phoenix area earlier this week where he was treated for a respiratory problem . He was 74 . Once conversationalist most outrageous trash in the sport, it was largely muted for the last quarter century of his life, soothed by a bata Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Ky., Ali learned to box after his bicycle was stolen when he was 12 years old. When the young Clay promised to "whoop ass" thief, an officer of the local police encouraged him to learn how to box to channel his energy. He would continue to be known as "the greatest", and at its peak in the 1970s was among the most recognizable faces on Earth. He was known for his tendency to recite poems while making predictions about his fights -. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee hands can not hit what your eyes can not see." - As to give opponents often unflattering nicknames. He referred to Sonny Liston as "the big ugly bear," Chuvalo as "The Washerwoman," Floyd Patterson as "The Rabbit" and as Earnie Shavers "The Acorn." But his most controversial, and some would say cruel nicknames were reserved for his fierce rival, Joe Frazier. He first called Frazier "Uncle Tom" then later called "Gorilla". When ready to meet Ali Frazier for the third time in Manila, Philippines, on 1 October 1975, he was frequently worn rubber toy gorilla with _him_. At a news conference, he released the son of gorilla began punching bag and as he said: "It will be a killa and a thrilla and a chilla when I get the gorilla in Manila". Frazier, however, Took personally and cherished long grudge DECADE. "What bothers _him_ do," Gene Kilroy, Ali's friend for more than 50 years, told Yahoo Sports. Kilroy Was Said Ali simply promote fights and Meant No Harm, and Said Ali regretted the impact of his words had Frazier. "I said to Ali," One day, me, you and Joe will be three old men sitting in the park laughing at all this [expletive], and Ali said "Recalled Kilroy." "That would be great! I talked to Joe and Joe said, "No, [expletive] _him_. I do not want to be with _him_. Aim it loosened later and they mended fences. " Shortly before the death of Frazier in 2011 he attended the signing of a show autograph and memorabilia in Las Vegas. Frazier grabbed a copy of an old Sports Illustrated HAD This image of the two fighters and promoter Don King on the cover. The man , " he said, in a melancholy tone ," we gave people memories, me and Ali . " Ali was at the height of his professional powers after eliminating Zora Folley in New York March 22 , 1967. He beat Folley everywhere and stopped in the seventh. After the match, Foley shared his thoughts with Sports Illustrated. " The right hands Ali hit me with just had no business landing - . But they do They came out of nowhere ," said Foley . " ... He's smart . The most difficult fighter , I saw him . He had 29 fights and acts like he got a hundred. He could write the book on boxing , and all those who fight should be made to read it first . " Ali boxing career came to a screeching halt after this fight . He refused induction into the Army of the United States because he said he was a conscientious objector. Ali had converted to Islam in 1964 after the first of his two victories over Liston , and changed his name from Cassius Clay. He said that Islam was a religion of peace and that he would not engage in combat with those who had him or his family not hurt . This is all down to the height of the civil rights movement . " Shoot them for what? " Ali asked in an interview after refusing induction. "They never called me nigger . They lynched me . They never put the dogs on me. They did not deprive me of my nationality , rape and kill my mother and father. What I want to draw , for what? Why I want to go shoot them , poor people and small babies and children and women? How can I shoot them ? Just take me to jail

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