Boxing legend Muhammad Ali tragically passed away yesterday, after suffering from a respiratory illness, a complication of his Parkinson’s disease. The 74 year old was a three-time heavyweight champion of the world who became one of the world’s biggest sporting stars.
Ali’s career spanned 21 years and featured 56 wins from 61 fights, including 37 wins via knockout. His fights against George Foreman in the “Rumble In The Jungle” and Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla In Manila” are as legendary as his pre and post match interviews, where Ali’s quick wit and fiery temperament always entertained.
But it’s outside the ring where Ali did some of his greatest work. Ali was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement and vehemently opposed the Vietnam War. When drafted in 1967, he refused to go and was subsequently stripped of his world title and banned from boxing for almost four years before the conviction was overturned.
While Parkinson’s slowed him down in his later years, Ali was always a bigger than life character. His brash self-confidence and faith in his own ability have always been part of his charm, and one of the reasons why he resonated so well within the hip-hop community. Ali not only used his superior boxing skills in the ring to beat his opponents, but used his words to intimidate and make them fear him, very much like rappers using their rhymes to prove their greatness in battles and rap beefs. Since his passing there has been an outpouring of tributes from the hip-hop community via social media. Everyone from Nas to Lil Kim to Snoop Dogg has paid their respects, and we’ve gathered the best for you to read below.
RIP to the greatest! Ali forever.
RIP to the greatest! Ali forever.
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) June 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/LilKim/status/738954457262755840
https://twitter.com/MCHammer/status/738953721581731840
We love you. We miss you. Rest in peace great one. #RIPALI
A video posted by @iamdiddy on
A photo posted by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on
“If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologize” #RestInParadiseChamp
A photo posted by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) on
I will forever be Inspired by This Man. 👑 #TheGreatest
A photo posted by DeJ Loaf (@dejloaf) on
A photo posted by Rick Ross / Yung Renzel (@richforever) on
A photo posted by 50 Cent (@50cent) on
You can find Tobias Handke on Twitter.
Image: SecondNexus