How the world reacted to the death of 'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali

Quotes from around the world after the death of three-time heavyweight champion 'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali:  

"He was a natural force. His radiance came from inside. You got the feeling of inner excellence, he felt from himself. It came from him. As he developed as a great champion it was apparent that this was a God given quality I never doubted." Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's longtime doctor and corner man.

 

"He's the most transforming figure of my time, certainly. He did more to change race relations and the views of people than even Martin Luther King. It was a privilege and an honor for me to know him and associate with him." Bob Arum, who promoted 26 of Ali's fights.   "Ali, Frazier & Foreman we were 1 guy. A part of me slipped away, "The greatest piece" Muhammad Ali. Tweet by George Foreman, Ali's opponent in the "Rumble in the Jungle"   "He represented what a man should be in an America that's free because he made people accept him as a man, as an equal and he was not afraid to represent himself in that way. That's what I loved about him, very few people ever comported themselves in a manner of being equal in a society where he could have definitely played it a different way." Former NFL great Jim Brown.

 

"Without question his legacy is one that he defied the odds because he stood up for what he believed in and when he was put to the test he took personal harm rather than go against his beliefs and what he stood for." Don King, promoter of "Rumble in the Jungle" and "Thrilla in Manilla."

 

"When an icon like Muhammad Ali passes away, it's very emotional. It's also gratifying to know that a guy, one man, would sacrifice so much in his individual life knowing that it would better the next generation of men and women after him. Today I can go to China and all over the world and people know my name and know my face. I give all credit to Muhammad Ali because he was the first icon. He is the GOAT. He's the greatest of all time and it has zero to do with his accomplishments inside the ring." NBA star LeBron James.

 

"Today we bow our heads at the loss of a man who did so much for America. Tomorrow, we will raise our heads again remembering that his bravery, his outspokenness, and his sacrifice for the sake of his community and country lives on in the best part of each of us." Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

 

"This is a sad day for me — and for the world. Muhammad Ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. He said he was 'The Greatest' and he was right. He was the greatest of his era in the ring and a global icon in sports. I was a kid during his prime, but I remember some of his epic fights and his incredible style. My sincerest condolences go out to his wife, Lonnie, his kids and family." Basketball great Michael Jordan.

 

"The sporting universe has just suffered a big loss. Muhammad Ali was my friend, my idol, my hero. We spent many moments together and always kept a good connection throughout the years. The sadness is overwhelming. I wish him peace with God. And I send love and strength to his family." Soccer great Pele on Twitter and Instagram.

 

"Certain people are courageous. He was very courageous in doing what no other athlete probably would have dared to have done, in particular a black athlete at that time," West said. "To me, he's inspired the people to look at inequalities in this world and I think some of the things he did, he just changed the perceptions of people. He was a magnificent person. I loved that guy. I really did." Former basketball star Jerry West.

 

"Ali was the example of how you use your platform and speak what you believe no matter what people will say," Curry said, "and (I) look at him (with) a sense of confidence in that regard, for sure." Basketball star Stephen Curry.

 

"The true GOAT (Greatest of All Time). What a sad day for everyone to (lose) someone so great and kind and someone who really stood up for what they believed in. He was my hero. He always will be. #muhammadali #cassiusclay" Tennis great Serena Williams on Instagram.

 

"I gave Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 and wondered aloud how he stayed so pretty throughout so many fights. It probably had to do with his beautiful soul. He was a fierce fighter and he's a man of peace, just like Odessa and Cassius Clay Sr., believed their son could be." Former President George W. Bush.

  "Mr. Ali was far more than a legendary boxer; he was a world champion for equality and peace. With an incomparable combination of principle, charm, wit and grace, he fought for a better world and used his platform to help lift up humanity." Spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

 

"Ali, the G-O-A-T. A giant, an inspiration, a man of peace, a warrior for the cure. Thank you." Tweet by actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's disease.

 

"Muhammad Ali, who passed away yesterday, was an extraordinary athlete and a remarkable man of good deeds who conquered the hearts of millions. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali's life-long struggle against racism and discrimination will never be forgotten. May Allah have mercy on Muhammad Ali, whose courage, conviction and determination inspired all of humanity. Tweet from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

 

"The best of all time has left. I remember the emotion of my dad when he saw him face to face in Las Vegas, in the fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Herns in 1981. So how can I not feel this loss, if he was what he most admired my father? In the ring he was a dancer. Surely he left because he could no longer give us more happiness. My condolences to his family." Soccer great Diego Maradona on Facebook.

 

"He fought hard, not only in the ring, but in life for his fellow citizens and civil rights. The world has lost today a great unifying champion whose punches transcended borders and nations." King Abdullah II of Jordan.

 

"Rip the greatest of all times in many different ways." Tweet by world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

 

"Muhammad Ali was not just a champion in the ring — he was a champion of civil rights, and a role model for so many people." Tweet by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

 

"He was an athlete who touched the hearts of people across the globe, an athlete who was engaged beyond sport, an athlete who had the courage to give hope to so many suffering illness by lighting the Olympic cauldron and not hiding his own affliction. He was an athlete who fought for peace and tolerance — he was a true Olympian. Meeting him in person was an inspiration. He was a man who at the same time was so proud and yet so humble." IOC President Thomas Bach.

 

"Hillary and I are saddened by the passing of Muhammad Ali. From the day he claimed the Olympic gold medal in 1960, boxing fans across the world knew they were seeing a blend of beauty and grace, speed and strength that may never be matched again. We watched him grow from the brash self-confidence of youth and success into a manhood full of religious and political convictions that led him to make tough choices and live with the consequences. Along the way we saw him courageous in the ring, inspiring to the young, compassionate to those in need, and strong and good-humored in bearing the burden of his own health challenges. I was honored to award him the Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House, to watch him light the Olympic flame, and to forge a friendship with a man who, through triumph and trials, became even greater than his legend. Our hearts go out to Lonnie, his children, and his entire family." Former President Bill Clinton.

 

"Muhammad Ali is a legend and one of the world's most celebrated athletes, the fighter who ushered in the golden era of boxing and put the sport on the map. He paved the way for professional fighters, including myself, elevating boxing to become a sport watched in millions of households around the world." Boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who won titles at six different weight classes.

 

"We lost a giant today. Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali's talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Ali family. May God bless them." Boxer Manny Pacquiao, a champion in eight weight classes.

 

"Passing the Olympic torch to Muhammad to light the cauldron at the Atlanta Games in 1996 was the defining moment of my career, and a memory I will treasure forever, as much as any of the medals I won. As Olympians, our role is to inspire others to achieve their dreams, and no person has ever lived that role more than Muhammad Ali." Swimmer Janet Evans.

 

"Thinking of #MuhammadAli and remembering a man who was not afraid to take a stand and who was committed to being his authentic self." Tweet from tennis great Billie Jean King.