Muhammad Ali, one of the world’s most celebrated boxing icons, would have celebrated his 75th birthday on January 17.
Born Cassius Clay, he converted to Islam in 1964 and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, the same year he shot to boxing superstardom after winning the WBA, WBC and lineal heavyweight titles.
Yet throughout his career, and even after he retired from boxing in 1981, Ali was a strong activist for Black Americans’ civil rights, and a vocal opponent to the U.S. government’s intervention in Vietnam.
Ali was also well-loved for his quotes and boxing ring rhymes, which ranged from the inspirational to the pompous, and form a large part of his legacy which lives on today. To celebrate what would have been his 75th birthday, Bored Panda has found our favourite Ali lines to share with you.
Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 74 on June 13, 2016, after a 30-year-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
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Image source: Harold P. Matosian
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Image source: Ebony Collection
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Image source: AP Photos
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Image source: Larry Morris
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Image source: Mitsunori Chigit
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Image source: John Rooney
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Image source: Associated Press
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Image source: Thomson Reuters
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Image source: Associated Press
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Image source: Getty Images
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Image source: AP Photos
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Image source: Carl Fischer
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Image source: AP Photo
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Image source: Ebony Collection
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Image source: AP Photos
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