Off the wire
• FUS Rabat win first ever Moroccan football league  • Euro 2016 preview: Portugal try to tame dark horses  • Dortmund sign Marc Bartra from Barcelona  • First major trophy for Muguruza after stunning Serena Williams at Roland Garros (updated)  • Order of play on show courts at Roland Garros on Sunday  • Xinhua world news summary at 0100 GMT, June 5  • Croatia dismantle San Marino 10-0 in last Euro2016 warmup  • Germany still far away from champion's style  • Spanish pair crowned at Roland Garros on expense of Bryan brothers  • Leganes win historic first promotion to La Liga  
You are here: 　 Home

Mournings pour in for legendary boxer Ali

Xinhua, June 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Mournings poured in as legendary boxer Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 74 in Phoenix, the United States, on Friday after battling the Parkinson's disease for 32 years.

Ali began boxing training at the age of 12 and won the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22 in 1964. He won the title again in 1974 and 1978.

He was not only a great boxer. Named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998, Ali traveled around the globe to support children and others caught up in conflicts, and to promote reconciliation between people and nations.

The following are some of the quotes in remembrance of the revered boxer:

"Mr. Ali was far more than a legendary boxer; he was a world champion for equality and peace. With an incomparable combination of principle, charm, wit and grace, he fought for a better world and used his platform to help lift up humanity." -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

- - - -

"The sporting universe has just suffered a big loss. Muhammad Ali was my friend, my idol, my hero." -- Brazilian football great Pele

- - - -

"We will never forget his chivalry and ethics, his rejection of war and defense of peace, his respect for and friendship with the companion Fidel and the great boxer born in Cuba that was Teofilo Stevenson." -- Cuban leader Raul Castro

- - - -

"He is an icon and a great man. He taught us how to fight, how to overcome hardship." -- China's first ever WBC champion Xiong Chaozhong

- - - -

"I am deeply grieving over the passing of the legend Mr. Ali, for whom I have great respect. He has been a great inspiration to me." -- China's two-time Olympic champion boxer Zou Shiming

- - - -

"Muhammad Ali was truly the greatest - an athlete who transcended sports to become a global icon.

"He inspired me, and millions of others around the world, to be the best version of ourselves." -- four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Janet Evans

- - - -

"Muhammad Ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. He said he was 'The Greatest' and he was right. He was the greatest of his era in the ring and a global icon in sports." -- U.S. basketball great Michael Jordan

- - - -

"My mind, my heart and soul is devastated. I admired and imitated Ali. We must not forget his conviction and love." -- Carl Lewis, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Endi