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Photographers around the world have captured the mesmerised grace and power of Muhammad Ali the boxer
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He was considered to be the greatest boxer of his generation and played a monumental role in defining the sport. Ali was born in Kentucky as Cassius Clay but later changed his name when he converted to Islam later in life.
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| Ali was one of the giant figures of the 20th century whose name will forever be revered by future generations
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He learnt to box as a teenager and carved a niche for himself as a professional. Renowned
for the Ali Shuffle - a foot manoeuvre designed to outwit his
opponents - he went on to become the first person to win the heavyweight
championship of the world three times.
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| A portrait of heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali as he trains for an upcoming fight against Earnie Shavers
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His astounding record
was a total of 56 wins and five losses - beating the likes of Joe
Frazier, Ken Norton and George Foreman.
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| Ali points at the camera from an open car door as he takes part in a pre-football game parade, Miami, Florida, December 14, 1963
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Photographers around the
world have captured the mesmerised grace and power of Ali the boxer
and also the incredible amount of hard work, dedication and personal
sacrifice that went into each fight. We take a look back at the life of one of the world's most photographed iconic sports figures in pictures.
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| Aerial view of Muhammad Ali victorious after round 3 knockout of Cleveland Williams during fight at Astrodome
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Ali, who dominated boxing for 21 years of his life and inspired a
generation of fighters, also made headlines outside of the ring.
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| The heavyweight boxer throws bare-handed punches in the ring while in
training for his fight against Brian London in London, 1966
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In 1967, he refused to join the American military to fight in the Vietnam War on account of his religion.
When
asked why he refused to serve in South East Asia, he cried: “I ain’t
got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Vietcong ever called me a
n*****."
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| Checking himself out in a mirror during a training session in Manila, Philippines
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Ali was sentenced to five years in prison – a sentence he never served on account of a series of appeals. The champ was stripped of his world titles and had his boxing license revoked - he was by all accounts finished.
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| Ali fends off a kick from wrestler Antonio Inoki during an exhibition fight in Tokyo, Japan, 1976
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But
a Supreme Court ruling overturned the ruling against the backdrop of an
increasingly unpopular war - and soon he was back in the ring
dominating the sport.
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| Former South African President Nelson Mandela cames face-to-face with Ali in the Irish city of Dublin in 2003
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Once asked how he would like to be remembered, he said: "As a man who never sold out his people.
"But if that's too much, then just a good boxer. I won't even mind if you don't mention how pretty I was."
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| Ali training in Zurich for a fight with his twin daughters Jamillah and Rasheda
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Ali carrying his mother Odessa Lee Clay
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The champ was stripped of his world titles and had his boxing license revoked - he was by all accounts finished. But
a Supreme Court ruling overturned the ruling against the backdrop of an
increasingly unpopular war and soon he was back in the ring
dominating the sport.
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| Ex-boxer Muhammad Ali veeing fingers in front of Pyramids of Giza
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| The champ holds up three fingers while reciting poem predicting that opponent Charlie Powell will fall in third round
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Once asked how he would like to be remembered, he said: "As a man who never sold out his people.
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| This was the moment Ali claimed: I am the Greatest, I shook up the World
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"But if that's too much, then just a good boxer. I won't even mind if you don't mention how pretty I was."
Ali family spoksman Bob Gunnell said: "After a 32 year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali at the age of 74.
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Muhammad Ali poses a portrait in 1964
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"The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening." He passed way in hospital in Arizona, USA, with his fourth wife
Yolanda - known as Lonnie - and his seven daughters and two sons at
his bedside.
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| Ali in his hotel room holding up five fingers in a prediction of how many
rounds it will take him to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper in 1963 |
He had children - Maryum, Rasheda, Jamillah, Hana,
Laila, Khaliah, Miya, Muhammad Junior with his first three wives and
adopted Assad, then aged five, after marrying Lonnie in 1986.
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| In the spot light: The star at his West End Hotel during his stay in London to fight Henry Cooper, 1966
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| Ali meets eight-month old Maria Morin in a training session at the Territorial Army Gymnasium at White City, London, 1966
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| Throughout his 21-year career he represented everything that was magnificent and magical
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Leading the tributes, retired boxer George Foreman, his rival in the famous Rumble in the Jungle fight told the BBC: "We were like one guy - part of me is gone."
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| Eighteen-year-old Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) raises his arm in victory after knocking out Gary Jawish in the 1960
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He
added: "Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest human beings I have ever
met. No doubt he was one of the best people to have lived in this day
and age. To put him as a boxer is an injustice."
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Frazier takes on Muhammad Ali during heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden
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| Ali's sad death was confirmed by a family relative on Saturday morning
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One of his last public appearances was at the London Olympics in July
2012, where - supported by Lonnie - he helped carry the Olympic flag. Earlier this year he was too ill to attend the opening of an exhibition of his life at the O2 in London.
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| Once asked how he would like to be remembered, he said: As a man who never sold out his people
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The funeral will take place in Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
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