SOME OF ALI’S MOST FAMOUS QUOTES

“Yes the crowd did not dream when they laid down their money, that they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny.” At a press conference ahead of the first Sonny Liston fight, 1964

“I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m a bad man! I shook up the world! I shook up the world! I shook up the world!” February 25, 1964, after defeating Sonny Liston

“I“ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong” February 17, 1966, Ali’s famous explanation of why he refused to serve in the United States Army

“Float“like a butterfly, sting like a bee” This was his rallying cry after he punched Sonny Liston’s face and became champion for the first time when Liston quit on his stool after the sixth round

“I’ve done my celebrating already. I said a prayer to Allah” June 28, 1971, on being told his conviction for draft evasion was overturned by the US Supreme Court

“I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark!” Ali tells reporters ahead of the George Foreman fight in 1974

“Only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick!”

Before the Foreman fight

“I told you all, all of my critics, that I was the greatest of all time. Never make me the underdog until I’m about 50 years old” 1974, after knocking out George Foreman to become heavyweight champion for the second time