The former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74
He'd been battling Parkinson's disease for years, a possible consequence of his career in the ring, and he was recently hospitalized with pneumonia.
He was born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky….but shortly after he first won the world heavyweight title in 1964 he changed his name to Muhammed Ali and later converted to Islam.
He was a towering figure on America's cultural stage, and his refusal to fight in Vietnam made him one of the country's most prominent conscientious objectors.
He was the only three-time world heavyweight champion and was universally known as simply "The Greatest".
Before HE died 3 years ago, British boxer Henry Cooper, whose left-hook famously floored Muhammed Ali in 1963, remembered the psychological battle he waged against the champ in the run-up to their fight.
IN: "The week before…."
OUT: "…does one on me" [LAUGHS]
DUR: 25 seconds
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***EDITORS: NOTE PROFANITY IN THIS CLIP***
British boxer Henry Cooper, who died three years ago, said Muhammed Ali courted popularity in the UK partly as a consequence of the controversies that surrounded his refusal to fight in Vietnam.
IN: "You know I don't…."
OUT: "….the American public did"
DUR: 27 seconds
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British boxer Henry Cooper, who died three years ago, famously brought Muhammed Ali to the floor with a left-hook during their 1963 fight.
He was one of the only boxers ever to bring Ali down.
IN: "He said Cooper…."
OUT: "…that done the damage, yeah"
DUR: 28 seconds
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British boxer Henry Cooper, who died three years ago, says Ali brought global popularity to the sport.
IN: "All them ad libs…."
OUT: "…get beat" [FADES ON CHUCKLE]
DUR: 31 seconds
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Muhammed Ali will forever be known for this famous phrase:
IN: "I am…."
OUT: "…the greatest"
DUR: 2 seconds
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Black nationalist leader Malcolm X embraced the young Cassius Clay when he turned to Islam and re-named himself Muhammed Ali.
In 1964 he defended the boxer's decision to embrace the Muslim faith.
IN: "We are brothers…."
OUT: "….image abroad"
DUIR: 29 seconds
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Black nationalist leader Malcolm X embraced the young Cassius Clay when he converted to Islam in 1964.
IN: "Cassius is …."
OUT: "…all-American boy"
DUR: 29 seconds
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In 1992, celebrations were held to mark Muhammed Ali's 50th birthday, and Nelson Mandela - a keen boxing enthusiast sent a video greeting in which he expressed his admiration for the champ.
IN: "Your courage…."
OUT: "…throughout the world"
DUR: 28 seconds
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In 1992, on a television special marking his 50th birthday, Muhammed Ali's speech was already dulled by the Parkinson's Disease that would eventually silence it.
IN: "I'm really…."
OUT: LAUGHTER
DUR: 20 seconds
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By the time Ali turned 50 in 1992, his speech was already dulled by the effects of Parkinson's Disease.
But on a television special marking the occasion, he showed his trademark pugnacity.
IN: "I have one announcement…."
OUT: LAUGHTER
DUR: 15 seconds
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Ahead of his 1974 fight in Kinshasa against George Foreman, known as the "Rumble in the Jungle", Ali made this famous boast.
IN: "I'm going to float…"
OUT: "…like white on rice"
DUR: 16 seconds
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