“After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening,” said family spokesperson Bob Gunnell.
Ali’s funeral will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, Gunnell said in the statement, adding “the Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and support and asks for privacy at this time.”
My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Ali represented something different in boxing. He mixed his strong athleticism with an equally strong mind. He could get into a boxer’s head with his words and into his face with his fists. It’s not surprising the popularity of boxing went downhill after Ali. No one was able to bring that combination of charisma, intelligence, and raw power to the sport again.
The fight that stands out in my mind is his first fight against George Foreman. Like Ali, Foreman was an Olympic champion. Foreman was younger and bigger. He unexpectedly knocked out Joe Frazier quickly to win the heavy weight title, and then beat Ken Norton in two rounds, someone who had broken Ali’s jaw. No one thought Ali would win against the younger stronger opponent.
Ali found a way. It was Moneyball for boxing. Ali protected himself in what became known as “rope a dope” until Foreman punched himself tired. In the eighth round, Ali landed the knock out blow and reclaimed the championship.
Ali’s refusal to serve in Vietnam robbed him of fighting in his prime. Over time, however, his stand, and subsequent treatment by the government and boxing earned him a great deal of respect in this country and the world.
He was not only the greatest boxer, but in my lifetime, the greatest combination of athlete and personality.