Summary

  • Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has died, aged 74, a family spokesman has said

  • He was admitted to hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday with a respiratory illness

  • His funeral will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky

  • The former heavyweight champion was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1984

Live Reporting

  1. Freeman: 'His name and story will live on'

    Australian sporting great tweets...

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  2. The greatest 'in many different ways'

    World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury tweets...

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  3. Ali was 'an inspiration to mankind'

    Current middleweight champion tweets...

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  4. Mayweather: 'There will never be another Muhammad Ali'

    Former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr has been paying tribute to Ali on Fox News in the US.

    He says:

    There will never be another Muhammad Ali. The black community all around the world, black people all around the world, needed him. He was the voice for us. He's the voice for me to be where I'm at today.

  5. 'Meeting Ali was an honour'

    Kellie Maloney has also been talking on BBC Breakfast. 

    She said Ali "took boxing from the back pages", adding: "To meet the man was such an honour."

    He was a man that in the ring could be brutal... but outside the ring, he had principles and stood by them.

  6. 'The all-time greatest has left us'

    Argentinian boxer Marcos Maidana, a two-weight former world champion, tweets...

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  7. David Cameron: Ali was 'a champion of civil rights'

    UK prime minister tweets...

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  8. Ali in words

    Ali changed his name from Cassius Clay in 1964 and would go on to say: "Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn't choose it and I don't want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name - it means beloved of God, and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me."

  9. Ringo's tribute

    The most famous band in the world met the most famous boxer in 1964 and Beatles drummer Ringo Starr paid his tribute today.

    The Beatles and the then Cassius Clay in 1964Getty Images
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  10. 'Shook up the world'

    Current promoter Eddie Hearn, who looks after current world champion Anthony Joshua, said: "Waking to the sad news that 'The Greatest' has passed. Rest in peace Muhammad Ali you shook up the World." 

  11. Ali interviews

    We have a comprehensive range of Ali material on the BBC Sport website for you, including some of his famous interviews.

    Click here

  12. 'Words can't describe' feelings about Ali

    Current heavyweight champion tweets...

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  13. 'He was the voice for us'

    Five-division former world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr says: "There will never be another Muhammad Ali. The black community all around the world, black people all around the world, needed him. He was the voice for us. He's the voice for me to be where I'm at today." 

  14. Ali in words

    Let's look back at some of the legendary quotes from the great man. This is one of the most often quoted, before his famous fight with George Foreman in 1974.

    "Float like a butterfly sting like a bee - his hands can't hit what his eyes can't see."

    Ali against ForemanAFP

    Ali (right) during his victory against Foreman in 1974

  15. 'People were in awe of him'

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Promoter Kellie Maloney tells BBC Radio 5 Live: "If you asked my daughters who the favourite sportsman in the world is, they'd say Muhammad Ali. He didn't just win battles in the ring, he won battles outside of the ring.

    "He could hold a room. Even when he wasn't well, people were in awe of him." 

  16. Ali was 'a legend who transcended sport'

    Former world champion and promoter tweets...

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  17. Ali's boxing career

    • Won Olympic light-heavyweight gold in 1960
    • Turned professional that year and was world heavyweight champion from 1964 to 1967, 1974 to 1978 and 1978 to 1979
    • Had 61 professional bouts, winning 56 (37 knockouts, 19 decisions), and losing five (4 decisions, 1 retirement) 

  18. 'Mankind benefited from his humanity'

    Manny Pacquiao, the former world champion and current politician, said in a statement: "We lost a giant today. Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali's many talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity."

  19. McGuigan: 'He inspired millions of people'

    Barry McGuigan, former world featherweight champion, told BBC Breakfast he felt "sadness, because of how great a human being he was and what he's done for boxing". 

    He was just the greatest sportsman that has ever been and we are very lucky that he happened to be involved in our sport. He was a very special man.

    Barry McGuigan

    He described Ali as an "amazing humanitarian" and "hugely talented man" who was also incredibly humble and "brilliantly charismatic". 

    McGuigan added: "He inspired millions of people". 

  20. 'Inspiration, mentor, friend'

    Former world heavyweight champion tweets...

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