Muhammad Ali was undoubtedly one of the greatest boxers ever to step into the ring, and there was no doubt that he knew it. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali rose to fame in the 1960s. He gained fame both for his phenomenal skill as a boxer and his controversial statements about race relations and the Vietnam War. Nicknamed “The Greatest,” he was the only boxer in history to win three lineal World Heavyweight Championships. When his titles were stripped after his arrest for draft dodging, he appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he won. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1984, and has devoted his retirement to a variety of humanitarian causes.
Twitter is abuzz this afternoon with people wishing Ali a happy birthday. Here’s what some people had to say.
@espn
ESPN“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali.
8 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@Schwarzenegger
ArnoldHappy birthday to my idol and the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali. http://t.co/ZvCP5Hnz 32 minutes ago via Tweetbot for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
@ebertchicago
Roger EbertMuhammad Ali’s 70th birthday. He and I watched “Rocky II” together. “Rocky doesn’t act nothing like me.” http://t.co/fJqvPKZS 1 hour ago via SocialOomph · powered by @socialditto
@rolandsmartin
rolandsmartinHappy 70th birthday Muhammad Ali. Yes, sir, you are a bad man! Give it for the champ, The Greatest of All Time! A true American hero 2 hours ago via Facebook · powered by @socialditto
@Toure
TouréMuhammad Ali: “Some people say they don’t know if I can take a hit. I plan to never let them find out.” 2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
@ItsMystikal
MystikalFloat like a butterfly, sting like a bee.. Happy Birthday to the Greatest Of All Time!! – Muhammad Ali 2 hours ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto
@MrIamDaGroove
Bryan HallHappy Birthday to the Louisville Slugger Muhammad Ali 23 minutes ago via TweetCaster for iOS · powered by @socialditto
@womnsworlofboxn
Teresa Scott“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses-in the gym & out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” -Muhammad Ali 26 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
