Hot Press is deeply saddened by the death of Muhammad Ali, not just the greatest boxer of all time but also a human rights colossus and cultural icon.
Those of a certain age will remember his epic ‘70s world title fights with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and George Foreman and interviews with Michael Parkinson.
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he changed his name in the mid-‘60s when he joined the Nation of Islam.
In 1967 he refused to be conscripted into the American army, saying at the time: “My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father… Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.”
As a result he was stripped of his title, had his licence revoked and was unable to box for three years.
Despite being diagnosed in 1984 as suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, Ali continued to travel the world as a UN Messenger of Peace and in 2009 visited Ennis, the home of his great-grandfather Abe Grady.
He famously fought Alvin Lewis in 1972 in Croke Park, an event documented in 2012’s When Ali Came To Ireland movie. There’s a famous photo of him trying his hand at hurling with Kilkenny legend Eddie Keher.
Among those paying tribute to The Greatest is President Micharl D. Higgins.
"The passing of Muhammad Ali will have been heard with the greatest sadness by Irish people of all generations," he says. "Many will remember the wit, grace and beauty he brought to boxing and some will recall his visits to Ireland.
"All over the world people also flocked to hear him offer his view on the achievement of democracy and particularly equal rights when they were so strikingly missing in some of the richest countries of the world. He will be missed not only by his close friends and family but by those who heard him and were influenced by him, all over the world."
The news prompted Enda Kenny to tweet: "Muhammad Ali inspired my generation and those that followed. Young people that never saw him fight can quote him word perfect."
There were also kind words from Conor McGregor on Instagram, see below.
Asked what he wanted his legacy to be, Ali said: “I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked above him. Who stood up for his beliefs. Who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.”
You were all that and more, champ!

Nobody will ever come close to this mans greatness. And if they do, they better wake up and apologise. #RIPAli #TheGreatest

A photo posted by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Jun 4, 2016 at 4:35am PDT