Mohammad Ali, known to us as The Greatest of All Time, died on Friday (June 3, 2016) following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The boxing legend was age 74 at the time of his death.
Ali checked into a Phoenix-area hospital on Thursday and by Friday his condition drastically deteriorated.
“After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening,” Bob Gunnell, a family spokesman, told NBC News.
Ali, whose birth name is Cassius Marcellus Clay, started boxing at the age of 12. He was born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 1960 Olympic games in Rome as a light heavyweight boxer. Shortly after that he launched his professional boxing career and later converted to Islam in 1963 and changed his name to Mohammad Ali.
Celebrities including Diddy, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Rihanna, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Jamie Foxx, Mike Tyyson, George Foreman and more, are reacting to Mohammad Ali’s death on social media.
RIP to the greatest! Ali forever.
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) June 4, 2016
RIP MUHAMMAD ALI ??
— FUTURE/FREEBANDZ (@1future) June 4, 2016
RIP @muhammadali, a legend who transcended sport and was a true champion for all. #thegreatest #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/vjmXlXaHip
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) June 4, 2016
Ralph Ali, Frazier & Foreman we were 1 guy. A part of me slipped away, "The greatest piece" https://t.co/xVKOc9qtub
— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016
God came for his champion. So long great one. @MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #RIP pic.twitter.com/jhXyqOuabi
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) June 4, 2016
Please keep @MuhammadAli in your thoughts and prayers. With God, all things are possible. pic.twitter.com/scABVLxroB
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) June 4, 2016
“Thank you for always showing me and my family love,” Diddy wrote on IG. “He was so kind to everyone he met! I want my son @princejdc to always cherish this moment. #RIPALI we miss you. We love you. You have changed the world. And taught us all something REST IN PEACE GREAT ONE.”
“‘If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologize’ #RestInParadiseChamp,” The Game wrote.
Prayers for the legend Muhammad Ali ?? pic.twitter.com/p4OQLpoZ5O
— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) June 4, 2016
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee Rest in Peace @MuhammadAli. We have truly lost one of the greatest ???? #RIPMuhammadAli
— Lil' Kim (@LilKim) June 4, 2016