“The Greatest” Muhammad Ali has passed away, but we have not forgotten him, had he still been alive, he would have celebrated his 83rd birthday today.

Ali was not only the greatest heavyweight boxing champion, he also won the world championship a record three times! He is a great humanitarian.

Ali did more for boxing than anyone could have imagined. From light heavyweight gold medalist at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, to winning the title on February 25, 1964, remaining undefeated in his 20th fight and defeating Sonny, the most feared boxer in the world, 35-1 Sonny Liston, who went 35-1 with KOs in 26 fights. Six rounds into the fight, Liston claimed a shoulder injury and refused to leave the stool. At that time, the two sides were tied: 57-57, 59-56, 56-58.

After defeating British and Commonwealth champion Henry Cooper 27-8-1 in the fourth round of his last fight, Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee cut off Ali’s gloves to give him time to recover. Ali defeated Cooper in 2 minutes and 15 seconds in the next round at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Previously, he had his closest match to date, defeating Doug Jones 21-3-1, 8-1, 5-4 over two rounds at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In 1973, when I met Ali at his home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, he emerged from another room and I foolishly asked, “When are you going to rematch Doug Jones?” and he invited me back to where he was. place.

Another four years later, I sat next to Ali at his camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, and without having learned his lesson, asked, “Why are you fighting these bums?” Even as a veteran, I was very Respect him.

In the 1960s, he refused to enlist in the Army, but a few years later he brought back 15 hostages from Iraq.

In December 1981, he ended his career with a record of 56 wins and 5 losses, with 37 knockouts. In his penultimate battle, he was stopped by “Easton Assassin” Larry Holmes. By then, his replacement Fedy Pacheco had left the corner, claiming he was not physically fit to continue. “Ali’s kidneys were failing,” said Dr. Nadillo of the New York Committee. In September 1977, he fought a powerful Earnie Shavers in Madison Square Garden and ended up winning. Winning with 54 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss.

Ali lost a split decision to 1976 Olympic gold medalist Leon Spinks 6-0-1. “Of all the losses I’ve had in boxing, the loss to (Leon) Spinks hurt the most. I didn’t train well. He did it in the rematch, at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA. Regaining the title in front of over 60,000 fans would be his final victory.

A week ago, it was the birthday of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, who gave Ali a silk white robe in Las Vegas with “People’s Choice” emblazoned on the back. “It should say People’s Champion on the back,” Ali said. Two years before Elvis died, he contacted Ali and wanted to visit him at Deer Lake Camp but didn’t want anyone to know he was there to spend time together. As he left, Ali said: “Elvis Presley is the most humble man I have ever met. What a wonderful man.”

“I beat him six rounds; the seventh time, when I hit him in the side, he leaned over my ear and said, George, that’s all you got?” Ali beat 40-0 in Zaire, Africa Champion “Big” George Foreman won the championship for the third time. Foreman added, “He’s bigger than boxing!”

“Hardcore,” Mike Tyson once said, “Cous (D’Amato, his coach) had the same birthday as Ali.” He first met Ali at a reform school where Ali was visiting. After Ali was defeated by Holmes, he said, “I’ll help you catch him!”

It was January 22, 1988, at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Next to Ali was future President Donald J. Trump. After being ushered into the ring, Ali tapped Holmes’s glove, walked over to Tyson, and whispered in his ear. Tyson later told him, “Kick his ass!” At 2:55 of round four, No. Down three times, Holmes was knocked down on his back!

Ali died in June 2016 at the age of 74.