… Jerry Quarry, whom he beat. Six months later, at a sold-out Madison Square Garden, he lost to Joe Frazier in a 15-round duel touted as “the fight of the century.” It was Ali’s first defeat as a pro.
Then you know the rest–you’ve seen the footage. The fight, “The Rumble In The Jungle” in Africa against George Foreman became the biggest, most hyped fight of the century again where Ali won. Next up was the “Thrilla In Manilla” against Frazier where Ali won in the 15th round.
Ali eventually retired at the age of 37 after losing a fight in 1978, but then came out of retirement one last time only to lose in 1980.
The following year, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
“I’m in no pain,” he told The New York Times. “A slight slurring of my speech, a little tremor. Nothing critical. If I was in perfect health — if I had won my last two fights — if I had no problem, people would be afraid of me. Now they feel sorry for me. They thought I was Superman. Now they can go, ‘He’s human, like us. He has problems.'”
Even as his health began to decline, Ali turned more to humanitarian efforts. Speaking, literally all around the world and being an ambassador for human rights of all walks of people.
In 2005, President George W. Bush honored Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his hometown of Louisville opened the Muhammad Ali Center, chronicling his life but also as a forum for promoting tolerance and respect.
Divorced three times and the father of nine children — one of whom, Laila, become a boxer — Ali married his last wife, Yolanda “Lonnie” Williams, in 1986; they lived for a long time in Berrien Springs, Michigan, then moved to Arizona.
His daughter Rasheda said early Saturday that the legend was “no longer suffering,” describing him as “daddy, my best friend and hero” as well as “the greatest man that ever lived.”
Rest well, my brother. Rest In Peace.