“Now Clay swings with a right - what a beautiful swing - and raises the bear straight out of the ring; Liston is rising and the ref wears a frown, for he can’t start counting ’til Liston comes down.

“Now Liston disappears from view, the crowd is getting frantic. But our radar stations have picked him up somewhere over the Atlantic.  Who would have thought when they came to the fight that they’d witness the launching of a human satellite?

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

“Cassius Clay is a slave name.  I didn’t choose it and I don’t want it.  I am Muhammad Ali, a free name.  It means beloved of God, and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me.” - announcing his conversion to the Muslim faith after first Liston fight

“Get up sucker and fight. Get up and fight.” - during second Liston fight, 1965

“What’s my name, fool? What’s my name?” - during fight with Ernie Terrell, who refused to recognize his name change, 1967

“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” - after refusing induction to the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war, 1967

“I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark.” - before George Foreman fight, 1974

“Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.” before Foreman fight, 1974

ALI TURNS 65 Celizic: 'The Greatest' was true champion Crystal sings happy birthday at show Kristofferson, Arum, daughter discuss Ali Memories of Ali are still vivid years later Ali hopes for knockout with new snack line Ali's 10 greatest fights | 10 greatest quotes Ali tops 10 greatest boxers of all-time   Video gallery: How Ali shook the world   Slideshow: Ali in and out of the ring   DISCUSS: Share your thoughts on Ali

“I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; Only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.” - before Foreman fight, 1974

“That all you got, George? That all you got?” - during Foreman fight, 1974

“It will be a killer and a chiller and a thriller when I get the gorilla in Manila.” - before third Joe Frazier fight, 1975

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