成人快手

Fighting in the ring or for his rights, Muhammad Ali was The Greatest.

1. His bouts didn’t end in the ring

Ali was a successful black man living during one of the most turbulent periods for race relations in American history. For some that was a provocation in itself. But Ali was never afraid to speak up, even when his views were controversial – expressing his strong opinions on race, religion and war. His frank stance on politics and society upset the conservative establishment of 1960s and 70s America. He was stripped of titles, banned from his boxing and threatened with prison. Yet his determination, principles and fearlessness in speaking out ensured Ali won through eventually – both in and out of the ring.

2. He said he was “the greatest”; he had a point

Declaring yourself “the greatest” might seem like a fate-tempting, self-aggrandising statement, but Ali fought to live up to the standards he set himself. His impressive fighting style combined with his charismatic personality took boxing to another level. His two epic bouts – the Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier and the Rumble in the Jungle versus George Foreman – weren’t just great boxing matches, they became two of 20th century’s great stories.

3. He had to fight to the very end

In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease but he was determined to carry on making a difference. He made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea, he brought medical supplies to Cuba and even helped to secure the release of 15 American hostages from Iraq before the 1990 Gulf War; all in spite of his own suffering.