10 unforgettable moments in the life of Muhammad Ali
With Muhammad Ali passing away, the sporting world is united in reflecting on the career of arguably the most charismatic athlete ever to strap on a pair of red gloves.
"The Greatest" left a lifetime of memorable moments and indelible images, many of which resonated beyond the confines of the ring.
Here's a look back at Ali's highs and lows throughout the years:
Clay turns to gold in Rome (1960)
The highlight of Ali's illustrious amateur career was a gold medal win at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Then known as Cassius Clay, the brash young American showed flashes of the dynamic boxing he would become famous for when he dispatched Zbigniew Pietrzykowski in the tournament final.
Come Together (1964)
Even before he claimed his first world championship, Ali was a star on the rise. The Beatles visited the young fighter during his training camp in Miami in February 1964.
A controversial KO, an iconic photo (1965)
Ali was never far from controversy, even in his most triumphant moments. After Ali defeated Sonny Liston to claim the title, a rematch took place just three months later. The highly anticipated bout lasted just over two minutes, when a punch from Ali put Liston down for the count.
Rumors swirled about Liston possibly taking a dive, but the disputed outcome was overshadowed by the stunning photo taken by Neil Leifer that perfectly captured Ali's win.
What's my name? (1967)
Ernie Terrell chose to refer to Ali as "Clay" in the lead-up to their bout, despite the fact three years had passed since Ali converted to Islam and changed his name. Not only did Ali go on to dominate the bout, but during the eighth round he continuously shouted at Terrell, "What's my name?"
The feud with Frazier (1974)
Ali was an expert in mental warfare and he pulled no punches when dealing with Joe Frazier, with whom he had three memorable bouts. Ali's pointed barbs led to the two regularly butting heads, resulting in fines and massive interest in all of their fights.
"The Rumble in the Jungle" (1974)
Faced with a younger, more powerful opponent, Ali introduced the world to the "rope-a-dope" technique wherein he focused on defense while allowing the frightening George Foreman to pound away at him.
An exhausted Foreman eventually succumbed to Ali's counterattack, stumbling to the mat where he was unable to beat the count.
Finishing the trilogy at Yankees Stadium (1978)
Ken Norton always brought his best when he stepped into the ring with Ali. After splitting their first two bouts, the pair faced off at Yankees Stadium for the third battle, which Ali captured in a hard-fought unanimous decision.
Always the man of the hour (1978)
Even with his fighting career winding down, Ali drew big crowds to his workouts.
Three-time Heavyweight Champ (1978)
The champ was particularly focused for his rematch with Leon Spinks, a fight he would win to capture his third and final heavyweight championship.
Torch handoff like no other (1996)
Few will ever forget Ali lighting the torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984 and the sight of him standing tall and proud inspired millions around the world.
Gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer Janet Evans was the one to hand the torch to Ali, a moment she recalled with reverence:
... after standing there with that man and watching him, I realized that as an Olympian, as an Olympic champion, a mantle we carry is to inspire and motivate others. And no one has ever done that greater than Muhammad Ali. So, Mr. Ali, thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for allowing me to continue to inspire young swimmers and young people to do and be the very best that they can be as well. Thank you.