Special Edition: "The Greatest". A Rare Man of Class, Conviction and Compassion. There's no more to be said!!!!!

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"The Greatest", Muhammad Ali
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Muhammad Ali's best 10 lines: The Greatest's most iconic quotes 50 years after becoming heavyweight world champion.

By Alex Richards (February 25, 2014)

The People's Champion claimed his first world title exactly fifty years ago before becoming perhaps sport's greatest iconic figure.

Wit and charm: Muhammad Ali was incredible with his words.

(Photo/Getty Images)

Fifty years ago today Muhammad Ali - then still Cassius Clay - took his first step on the road to sporting greatness by claiming his first World Heavyweight title with a win over Sonny Liston.

Ali, then a 22-year-old, relative novice, was a 7/1 shot with bookmakers, but on that day - February 25, 1964 - he made the world sit up and take notice of his talent.

From then on, The Greatest was larger than life, talking-the-talk and walking-the-walk, as he became the biggest personality to ever grace the world of sport.

"I'm the greatest" he would proclaim - and eventually the world would believe him.

Here's a look at 10 of the greatest quotes from the man who could talk almost as quickly as he could box:

Olympics Success

Even before his forays into the professional ranks, Ali wasn't short of confidence.

And following his Olympic light-heavyweight gold success in Rome in 1960, the world got its first taste of Ali's loquaciousness.

"To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole.

"And for the USA won the medal of gold. The Greeks said you're better than the Cassius of old."

Float like a butterfly

Probably the best known of all Ali's greatest quotes, he used it before his first title showdown with Liston, before similarly repeating it ahead of his 1974 fight with George Foreman.

"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee - his hands can't hit what his eyes can't see."

On Belief

As he grew from a young man into a veteran, and turned from Cassius Clay, through Cassius X and into Muhammad Ali, the courage of his convictions grew stronger.

And as Ali was increasingly challenged outside the ring, he revealed his interpretation on the word belief.

"It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."

I am the greatest

Two words which encapsulated Ali both as a boxer and as a 20th century sporting icon: The Greatest.

He first declared himself in such grandiose terms ahead of his 1964 title fight with Liston - where he shocked the world with his first heavyweight title triumph.

"I am The Greatest."

Rejecting being drafted for the Vietnam war            

Back in 1967 boxing authorities in the United States stripped Ali of his world title and suspended his boxing license following his refusal to join the US army.

A statement from Ali said that had he accepted the draft, then he would have been untrue to his religion.

He also provided the soundbite: "Man, I ain't got no quarrel with them Vietcong. No Vietcong ever called me n****r"

Ali would be sentenced to five years in prison and handed a $10,000 fine, although he remained on bail while he appealed and it would eventually be reversed in 1971.

On his school days

By his own concession, Ali wasn't the greatest student during his youth.

But as he got older, and his fame grew, he realized that he could spin it into a positive for youngsters who also weren't so great at school.

"The fact is, I was never too bright in school. I ain't ashamed of it, though. I mean, how much do school principal's make a month?

"I said I was 'The Greatest', I never said I was the smartest!"

On training

Ali always fought hard and always spoke a good game, but he didn't enjoy training.

For him, the action and the theatre was the thrill, not the behind-the-scenes stuff.

However, he knew it was a necessity, for nothing else would ever have come without it.

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"

On being fast

Giving a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria ahead of the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman, Ali explained why he was going to beat the world champ.

Basically, it came down to the fact that Foreman wasn't as good as Sonny Liston ten years previously, while Ali believed himself to be far superior to his 22-year-old self.

And fast; the man knew he was fast:

"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."

On Joe Frazier

Arguably the greatest rivalry in the history of boxing saw Ali go up against Smokin' Joe Frazier on three separate occasions.

And Ali never missed an opportunity to poke fun or have a dig at his opponent, who won their first fight via unanimous decision.

"Joe Frazier is so ugly that when he cries, the tears turn around and go down the back of his head," said Ali while their rivalry was at something like its peak.

And ahead of their third and final battle in the Philippines in 1975 - The Thrilla in Manilla - Ali said: "It will be a Killer, and a chiller, and a thriller. When I get the gorilla in Manila."

Nevertheless, despite all the condemnations and put downs from Ali towards Frazier - and the fact that they were never great pals post-boxing - there was no doubting that he did indeed respect his greatest rival.

"I always bring out the best in men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me.

"I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him."

On Retirement

In 1979 Ali announced his retirement from boxing, however he returned to the ring in both 1980 and 1981 -  yet looked nothing like the fighter he was against both Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick.

The subject of retirement had always been one which Ali never appeared overly comfortable with, however, it did give rise to a great quote featuring mentions for both Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

"People don't realize what they had until it's gone. Like President Kennedy, nobody like him.

"Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing."

Defining Classic Fight Photos:

Sonny Liston (Champion) Vs. Cassius Clay (Challenger), February 25, 1964

Challenger Cassius Clay bangs a right to the left shoulder of crouching Sonny Liston during their World Heavyweight Fight. Clay became the new champion on a technical knock out in the seventh round. Liston 7-1 favorite to retain his crown failed to answer the bell at the start of the seventh round. He claimed his shoulder was injured during a first round melee.

Muhammad Ali Vs. George Foreman ("Rumble in the Jungle"), October 30, 1974

In this photo taken on October 30, 1974 shows the fight between US boxing heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali (L) (born Cassius Clay) and George Foreman in Kinshasa. On October 30, 1974 Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in a clash of titans known as the "Rumble in the Jungle", watched by 60 000 people in the stadium in Kinshasa and millions elsewhere. (AFP PHOTO)

Muhammad Ali Vs. Joe Frazier (''The Thrilla In Manila''), October 1, 1975

Spray flies from head of challenger Joe Frazier as heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali connects with a right in the ninth round of their title fight in Manila, Philippines, October 1, 1975. (Photo/Mitsunori/AP)

Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: Muhammad Ali,  "The Greatest". A Rare Man of Class, Conviction and Compassion. There's no more to be said!!!!!

January 17, 1948 - June 3, 2016

RIP Champ