Muhammad Ali’s career took him all around the world, from the Congo to the Philippines, all the way to Ireland, where he shocked locals ahead of his clash with a former sparring partner.
Muhammad Ali retired with a record of 56-5, avenging all but his final two losses, and entertaining fans with a host of enthralling performances against the likes of Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Leon Spinks and the feared Sonny Liston, who scared America when he dressed as Santa.
Mike Tyson promised Ali he would avenge his loss to Larry Holmes, which he did in 1988.
His career was not just that of a supremely talented boxer, but one of a showman, with Ali once having doctors fear for his heart rate after a press conference with Sonny Liston where Ali went on a tirade against his opponent.
Ali’s fights took place all around the world so everyone could see ‘The Greatest’ in action, with one such occasion of this being when Ali visited Ireland to fight former sparring partner Alvin ‘Blue’ Lewis.
Muhammad Ali’s order sent a pub into hysterics ahead of Al Lewis fight
Ahead of the fight, which Ali was persuaded to participate in after Irish circus strongman Michael Sugrue put up £300,000, the heavyweight icon is reported to have visited an Irish pub.
Due to his devout Islamic beliefs, Ali would not drink alcohol, but the locals insisted on buying a drink for ‘The Greatest’.
Ali conceded, but his order sent the pub into hysterics after a long silence – he ordered a glass of milk.
He is said to have spent the night telling stories, shadow boxing and joking with the locals, who were left charmed by the heavyweight sensation.
Ali would go on to stop Lewis in the eleventh round at Croke Park.
Muhammad Ali was dropped four times in his career all to the same punch
Ali is known for an amazing career, but the champion was not invincible and has had to get up from the canvas four times in his career.
The first knockdown came at the hands of Sonny Banks when Ali was still going by Cassius Clay. Ali was dropped in the very first round but would go on to win the fight by TKO in the fourth round.
The second knockdown came at the hands of Henry Cooper, who sent Ali to the canvas in the fourth round of their first encounter in 1963. Ali stopped Cooper in the very next round.
The only knockdown in which he didn’t stop or even beat the opponent after being sent down, came against Joe Frazier in 1971, eight years after his fight with Cooper. Ali vs Frazier was watched by almost 10% of the world’s population at the time.
Ali would be knocked down for the final time against Chuck Wepner in the 9th round. As with Cooper and Banks before, Ali stopped Wepner later in the fight.
Each and every knockdown was the result of a left hook.