Get Involvedpublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
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Soji Oriowo: Even for many who do not like the Sport, Ali was a HERO. In Africa, people would watch his fights like a World Cup Final - RIP.
Summary
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has died, aged 74
Three-time world champion, won 56 of his 61 professional fights
Mike Tyson led the tributes and said "God came for his champion"
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
It all started with a stolen bike...published at 08:41 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
Image source, Getty ImagesLegend has it that Muhammad Ali's boxing career started by chance. He had his bike stolen at the age of 12 and was persuaded to take up the sport by a policeman, Joe Martin, after making it clear he wouldn't take the theft lightly.
He quickly showed he knew how to handle himself and, by the age of 18, was winning Olympic gold in Rome.
A star had been born.
'He made all Americans stand taller'published at 08:38 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
There's some incredible tributes being paid to Muhammad Ali this morning, but few as heartfelt and touching as this one from former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
"Today we bow our heads at the loss of a man who did so much for America. Tomorrow we will raise our heads again remembering that his bravery, his outspokenness, and his sacrifice for the sake of his community and country lives on in the best part of each of us.
"At a time when blacks who spoke up about injustice were labelled uppity and often arrested under one pretext or another, Muhammad willingly sacrificed the best years of his career to stand tall and fight for what he believed was right. In doing so, he made all Americans, black and white, stand taller. I may be 7ft 2in but I never felt taller than when standing in his shadow."
'Ali made you love him' - Foremanpublished at 08:34 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
BBC Radio 5 LiveMore from George Foreman on BBC Radio 5 live: "Muhammad Ali made you love him. If you dislike him you wanted more than anything to see him again so you could dislike him again.
"Beauty is how you would describe him. Muhammad Ali was what I call beautiful."
Image source, Getty Images'A truly great champion' - Trumppublished at 08:33 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
'Something greater than a boxer' - Foremanpublished at 08:32 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
BBC Radio 5 LivePerhaps the most famous fight of all time was the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 when Ali fought back to beat Foreman in the eighth round in the then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Foreman told BBC Radio 5 live this morning: "Little did I know I would be facing something greater than a boxer.
"He stood the test. He took everything I had and gave back worse. I loved the man. I wanted to beat him and knock him out but I loved the man.
"He called me Frankenstein's monster. He was only saying that because it was true. I was a monster, I was a monster."
Image source, AFPStyle and substancepublished at 08:31 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
Ali's style was what set him apart in the ring. He broke through as a fleet-footed, fast-punching whipper-snapper who floored Sonny Liston.
Which led to him coining the phrase: 'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee'.
Later on, when he realised he was not as quick and with age catching up with him, he became more cute in the ring and adopted a 'rope-a-dope' strategy to defeat George Foreman. Basically, he let Foreman wear himself out in the heat of the jungle - soaking up all the punches - and then he swooped in for the title.
A sporting pioneer.
The greatestpublished at 08:25 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
Many of you will know all about Ali's incredible achievements as a boxer. But I make no apologies for repeating them for those who don't.
They stand the test of time. He became the first boxer to capture a world heavyweight title on three separate occasions. And at a time when the depth and standard of fighters in the division was arguably at its peak.
He fought and beat them all - Liston, Foreman, Frazier.
Yes, the same George Foreman whose name adorns the lean, mean grilling machine which is currently cooking your bacon.
A family manpublished at 08:21 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
This is a beautiful picture. The most famous sportsman of all time with his granddaughter.
Grandads just don't come any cooler.
Image source, FacebookRingo's tributepublished at 08:17 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
The most famous band in the world met the most famous sportsman in the world in 1964 and today Beatles drummer Ringo Starr paid his tribute.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe 'wrestled an alligator'published at 08:17 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
We've all got our favourite Muhammad Ali quotes. This one, before the famous Rumble in the Jungle fight against George Foreman, takes some beating:
"I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick."
'Greatest of all time' - Khanpublished at 08:13 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
'A champion of civil rights' - Cameronpublished at 08:10 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 08:10 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
#bbcboxing
Before we go any further, we want to hear your stories of Muhammad Ali. How did he touch your life? Was he the greatest? Were you ever lucky enough to meet him?
You can join in today by using #bbcboxing, external
'He was the greatest'published at 08:06 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
BBC Radio 5 LiveOne of Ali's most famous opponents George Foreman, tells BBC Radio 5 live: "The man was the greatest. Forget about boxing, he was one of the greatest men to appear on television, to appear in the media."
Image source, AFPImage caption, Ali (right) against Foreman in 1974
'He can never be replicated' - Bellewpublished at 08:06 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
BBC Radio 5 LiveWorld cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew is one of the many from the boxing world interviewed on 5 live this morning.
"He was the ultimate hero. It's heartbreaking news to wake up to. The greatest sportsman of all-time in my opinion. He transcended the sport and this is a sad day.
"I hope something can be named after him. He can never be replicated."
Postpublished at 08:05 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
Sports fans from around the world loved him, not only because of his supreme athletic ability but also his famous musings, rhymes and rants. Decades after he retired, he was still a hero to many.
The early yearspublished at 08:03 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, on 17 January 1942, the son of a sign painter. He was named after a prominent 19th Century abolitionist.
However, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 saying that his birth name was his "slave name".
Throughout his high-profile life, his outspoken support for civil rights endeared him to millions of people across the world.
'Ali transcended his sport' - Linekerpublished at 07:59 British Summer Time 4 June 2016
'God came for his champion' - Tysonpublished at 07:59 British Summer Time 4 June 2016