The Greatest

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Muhammad Ali, who declared “I am the greatest” and proved it many times over, infuriating some and captivating countless more as he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee on his way to winning the world heavyweight championship a record three times, becoming perhaps the most widely recognized person on the planet, died Friday in Phoenix.

He was 74. Mr. Ali had long suffered from Parkinson’s syndrome. The condition was understood to be a consequence of his boxing career.

Muhammad Ali poses with gloves in this undated portrait.

Ali, or Cassius Clay at the time, beats his chest in triumph after toppling Britain's Beatles at his training camp in Miami Beach, Fla., on Feb. 18, 1964.

Muhammad Ali stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Me., on May 25, 1965.

Muhammad Ali (left) taking on Floyd Patterson at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 22, 1965.

Joe Frazier (right) lands a left hook on Muhammad Ali during the first of their three epic battles at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.

Ali evades a left from Joe Frazier during their title bout, the “Fight of the Century,” at Madison Square Garden in New York, on March 8, 1971.

Joe Frazier is directed to a corner by the referee after Frazier knocked down Ali during the 15th round of the title bout in Madison Square Garden.

Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson pose after a pre-fight physical in New York, on Sept. 11, 1972.

Ali jokes with television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials, in West Point, NY., on Aug. 7, 1972.

Muhammad Ali shouts during the weigh-in for his fight against Joe Bugner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 14, 1973.

Muhammad Ali with family at his training camp in Deer Lake, Pa., on Aug. 24, 1973.

Muhammad Ali trains at his camp in Deer Lake, Pa., on Jan. 17, 1974.

Muhammad Ali tapes his right hand for a training session at his camp in Deer Lake, Pa., on Jan. 17, 1974.

Muhammad Ali is greeted in downtown Kinshasa, Zaire on Sept. 17, 1974 who was in Zaire to fight George Foreman.

Muhammad Ali watches as defending world champion George Foreman goes down to the canvas in the eighth round of their WBA/WBC championship match in Kinshasa, Zaire on Oct. 30, 1974.

Muhammad Ali joking with a baby during a work out for his fight against Ron Lyle at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, Nev., on May 12 1975.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, left, applauds as challenger Joe Frazier, right, makes some remarks about world champion Muhammad Ali, second from left, during their call on Marcos at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines on Sept. 18, 1975.

Heavy weight boxer Muhammad Ali seen after knocking-out his British challenger Richard Dunn in the fifth round of their fight, in Munich, Germany, on May 25, 1976.

Orson Welles (from left), US actor-singer Dean Martin, and Sports announcer Howard Cosell laughing at US boxer Muhammad Ali during the Dean Martin Roast of Muhammad Ali at the MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 18, 1976.

American swimmer Janet Evans passes the Olympic flame to Muhammad Ali during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta on July 19, 1996.

Muhammad Ali pictured with Prince in 1997.

Moroccan King Hassan II (right) decorating former World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali during a ceremony in the Royal Palace in Rabat on Jan. 15, 1998.

Muhammad Ali poses during the Crystal Award ceremony at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 28, 2006.

Muhammad Ali stands with his wife Yolanda as he is introduced before the welterweight fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 1, 2010.

Argentinian boxer Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez (left) and the president of the World Boxing Council, Jose Sulaiman (right), place the crown of "King of Boxing" on former American boxer Muhammad Ali during the 50th Convention of the World Boxing Council in Cancun in this Dec. 3, 2012.