They said the ring was never big enough for him.Was this world ever gonna be? Watching “Rumble in Jungle ” or “Thrilla in Manila” just doesn’t begin to tell what his impact on sport was or even beyond it. Like Manny Pacquiao stated on his death ” We lost a giant today.Boxing benefitted from Muhammad Ali’s talent but not nearly as much as mankind from his humanity.” Manny’s was one of many tributes rolled out last Saturday as the world poured its heart full of emotion, something that can only be reserved for a legend like Ali.

Known as the “Louisville Lip” for his origins in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky and being quite loud mouthed  in his exchanges with the press and competitors there was nothing more louder in the ring  than those pair of boxing gloves he wore.Crowned an Olympic champion in Rome olympics of 1960, the lean Cassius Clay became pro not long after. In a short time he went up the pro ranks and landed up the big fight against Sonny Liston which will change him forever. The People’s champion had arrived in 1964.In the prime of his career, he was put in sporting exile after his refusal to fight the Vietnam war or that’s what we thought.

For the record, he regained the world heavyweight crown 7 yrs after taken from him by the boxing authorities after he refused to be inducted for army service for the Vietnam War.The venue was interestingly, Kinshasa in  Zaire now known as Democratic Republic of Congo and the bout labelled as ” Rumble in the Jungle”.In October 1974 , in one of the greatest bouts ever fought against then champion George Foreman, Ali took the stage again.That in itself was an achievement. But how he did was incredible.Many had feared for Ali’s life.Deemed as heavy underdog against the huge George Foreman, and shunned by many as a “has been”, Ali did what he does best.Solid footwork and waited for his time.The crowd in Kinshasa going with with every punch he landed. “Boomaye, Ali” chants  which were present when he landed in Zaire let alone the ring itself couldn’t have been heard any louder. The People’s champion had won.And it wasn’t his last fight like he had advertised either.That build up in Kinshasa taught him a thing or two about the world.

More thrills were to come.His rivalry with Smokin Joe Frazier was huge.Labelled the “Fight of the Century”, in 1971 when both were undefeated, Frazier took the fight on unanimous points decision.Ali returned the favour in non title bout  in January 1974 was when neither were champs but after reclaiming the title from Foreman in Zaire, set up what many see today as the greatest fight of all time ” Thrilla in Manila”. It took place in January 1975 in the Araneta Coliseum ,Quezon City which is now the Philippines’ largest city. Jab after Jab received, Ali said afterwards he was closest to dying by round 9. By Round 13, Frazier could hardly see and his gum shield had fallen.Ali unleashed  barrage of punches in the following round enough for the referee to stop the bout before a 15th round. Ali had retained his heavyweight championship.

To have regained the heavyweight title is not a major feat in today’s era but to have done it twice in those conditions was an amazing feat. Many said he should have hung up in 1975 after the Frazier era.Ali would have struggled against a younger fellow Olympic champion by the name of Leon Spinks.Spinks beat an out of shape Ali in his only his 8th fight in 1978, the fastest to a heavyweight championship in history, but then refused to fight Ken Norton,the challenger in waiting. Instead he went for  re match. In then the relatively new and huge arena called the   Louisiana Superdome in October 1978,  Ali fought tooth and nail after coming back in shape. He won on  the unanimous point decision and became the 1st three time heavyweight champion.It was also his last professional win in  his 59th pro fight.

Ali’s reign in the ring ended  with a loss to Larry Holmes in 1980, but his influence outside it was just beginning. Known long before his retiring days that he’ll invest heavily in the people all around the globe, he did just that.Parkinsonism in 1984 didn’t halt his journey.He travelled all over the globe and everywhere he went,he attracted attention and became a great spokesman for human relations,peace and prosperity in addition to his charity work.He was the show stealer in the opening ceremony of  the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.During the last years of Vietnam War, he had become a hero rather than a traitor.He now became a social icon after his gloves were hung.His  gloves are still enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute.

He was dubbed the Best Heavyweight of the 20th century  by Associated Press and finished Fighter of the year more times by Ring Magazine than any other boxer.BBC Sport awarded him “Sports Personality of the Century”. Sports illustrated likewise named ” Sportsman of the Century “.The people loved him. Sport adored him.He was after all the ” People’s Champion.”

Words fail to describe the impact he had on generations to come.A Sportsman, a revolutionary,most importantly,a human being.The day would come when the whole world would mourn his loss.Billions did.So many tributes on so many platforms showed he touched so many lives.He changed many a generation.Regardless of age, race, creed, gender,people all over the globe felt the loss. Many continue still. There will be no one like him, ever in sport or in the larger context in humanity on this planet.Champion he was , is and he will be. He was truly like his own admission,”The Greatest”.