Muhammad Ali photos

Professional boxer Muhammad Ali is known for his cocky attitude and prowess both inside the ring when fighting an opponent or outside the ring fighting injustice. (Photo by: The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)

Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, prepares for one of his early matches in the ring against Archie Moore in October, 1962 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by: The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)

During the 1960 Olympics, Muhammad Ali towers over fellow Olympians Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland (R), Giulio Saraudi of Italy (L) and Anthony Madigan of Australia (2nd-L) as the gold medalist for light heavyweight boxing. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

Always confident, Muhammad Ali holds up five fingers with one hand and a fist with the other as he shows how many rounds he'll need to knock out his next opponent, British boxer Henry Cooper, on May 27, 1963. (Photo by Kent Gavin/Keystone/Getty Images)

It's clear that even four againt one, The Beatles don't stand a chance when fighting against the self-proclaimed Greatest of All Time in Miami, Florida on February 22, 1964. (Photo by Chris Smith/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Having gained the spotlight after a stellar showing in the olympics and a fantastic record in the ring, Muhammad Ali sits down with Eric Sevareid for an interview on the set of CBS Evening News on March 24, 1964 in New York, New York. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

In a third round victory, Muhammad Ali throws a strong right hook, defeating his boxing British opponent, Brian London, and keeping his heavyweight world champion title intact in the United Kingdom on August 6, 1966. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Muhammad Ali holds the World Champion trophy after winning his match against British boxer Brian London on August 6, 1966 in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

In a much anticipated match known as the "Fight of the Century," Muhammad Ali takes on rival Joe Frazier in a clash of the heavyweight titans on March 8, 1971, in New York City, New York. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)

After a 15 round battle of endurance, Muhamamd Ali is left struggling to rise from the ring after getting knocked down by a confident Joe Frazier, seen confidently walking away. After getting back on his feet, Joe Frazier was named the winner in a unanimous decision on March 8, 1971, in Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Fred Morgan/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Not long after his defeat at the hands of Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali continues to train for upcoming matches at Chris Dundee's 5th Street gym in Miami Beach, Florida, in March, 1971. (Photo by Chris Smith/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Out for blood and his championship title, former world champion Muhammad Ali takes out German boxer Jurgen Blin in round seven of their 12 round match in Zurich, Germany, on December 29, 1971. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

Never one to shy away from making cocky comments before his matches, Muhammad Ali holds up a wanted poster of himself for the "illegal whuppin" of Joe "Tramp" Frazier on January 25, 1974, before their rematch. Ali trained for the match in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Smith/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Back with a vengeance, Muhammad Ali wins his rematch against Joe Frazier by decision in Madison Square Garden, New York, on January 28, 1974, in one of two major fights that Ali would fight during that year. (Photo by Frank Hurley/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

After successfully taking on Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali sets his sights on George Foreman for a match known as "The Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire, Africa on October 30, 1974. In spite of Foreman's impressive record as the undefeated world heavyweight champion, Ali won by knock out in the eighth round of the match, regaining his title as heavyweight champion of the world. (Photo by: The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)

Muhammad Ali appears at a press conference with Don King to state that the proceeds of his upcoming fight against Chuck Wepner would go towards helping people affected by the drought in Sahel, Africa on March 5, 1975 in New York, New York. (Photo by: The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)

Before the last, and arguably most exciting, match between legendary boxing rivals Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, the heavyweights grace the cover of The Ring magazine in August, 1975. The final match, known as the "Thrilla in Manila," lasted more than 14 rounds, ending Ali winning by TKO on October 1, 1975, in Quezon City, Philippines. (Photo by: The Ring Magazine/Getty Images)

Making sure to make an impact in more than just the ring, Muhammad Ali makes an appearance on the popular CBS program Face the Nation in Washington, D.C. on May 2, 1976. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Muhammad Ali gives back to the community as he holds the torch of the 1979 International Summer Special Olympics along with Rayford Johnson in August, 1979. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

After an exciting time as "The Greatest" that boxing has to offer, Muhammad Ali's once-devastating haymaker starts to find itself past it's heyday as he loses a match to heavyweight Larry Holmes in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 2, 1980. (Photo by Chris Smith/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Heavyweight Boxing: Muhammad Ali and Trevor Berbick fight in heavyweight match that would have Ali losing once again to a newer generation of boxer on December 11, 1981, in Nassau, Bahamas. The following day, Ali retired from boxing. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Los Angeles, 23rd February 1983: Retirement brings Muhammad Ali some much sought after and much deserved peace and quiet, as he sits in his home in Los Angeles, California, on February 23, 1983, performing magic tricks to any guests willing to watch. (Photo by Michael Brennan/Getty Images)

Athletic icons meet as boxing legend Muhammad Ali and basball legend Hank Aaron are both presented with Presidential Citizens Medals from President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. on January 8, 2001. (Photo credit should read STEVE JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Boxing legend, civil rights activist and "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali has made his mark on the world of boxing and athletics as a whole for his engagement and the strength of his convictions in the face of adversity. He is seen attending the 4th Annual Life Changing Lives Gala on September 11, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic)