Muhammad Ali, born Classius Clay, died overnight at the age of 74 in a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. The former heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist in Rome '60 was hospitalized on Thursday 2 June as a "precaution". His conditions hadn't been judged serious, but given his age and Parkinson's disease, which 'The Greatest' had been suffering from for thirty years, the doctors had chosen the path of caution.
The former Cassius Clay, who had retired from boxing in 1981, had been hospitalized several times over the past few years. The latest in January 2015, for a serious urinary tract infection, although he was initially diagnosed with pneumonia.
The Parkinson's disease from which he suffered was evident to the world by the trembling of his hands while lighting the Olympic torch in 1996, at the Atlanta Games. Yet Muhammad Ali had long remained active as a public figure. Despite his suffering only in the last few years had he completely withdrawn into private life. Some experts argue that the disease may have been caused by blows taken in the ring during his career.
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., he changed his name to Muhammed Ali in 1964 after converting to Islam. He became a symbol for the black liberation movement in the United States during the 60s, also for having defied the American government, opposing enlistment in the army for religious reasons. He has been married four times and has nine children.
“God has come to take his champion. Long live the greatest." So Mike Tyson on Twitter. Tyson also posted a photo of him from a few years ago with the champion. "The 'biggest' part of me is gone," historic opponent George Foreman writes on Twitter. “Me, Frazier and Ali were one person, part of me is gone,” Foreman wrote. “I love this picture of my dad and daughter Sidney growing up! Thank you for all your love and attention. I feel your love and I appreciate it." So Laila, eldest daughter of Muhammad Ali and former boxing champion, tweeted a few hours before her father died.
