Muhammad Ali's like will never pass this way again

Ali used the 'rope-a-dope' technique made famous in the documentary Once We Were Kings. He leaned back on the ropes and absorbed the terrifying body blows his younger and more powerful opponent dished out.

"You're not hitting at all George," Ali would whisper to an enraged Foreman."Is that all you've got?"By the end of the sixth round, Foreman was spent. Ali took him out in the eight and regained the world title.

On 1 October 1975, Ali fought Joe Frazier for the third time. The 'Thrilla in Manila' is ranked as the greatest heavy weight fight in history - a battle between boxing's titans. Both fighters could hardly stand after going 14 punishing rounds in stifling tropical heat.

Ali won after Frazier's corner threw in the towel. Ali said the fight was "the closest thing to death". He never watched a replay.

Ali lost his title in 1978 to Leon Spinks, a fighter 12 years his junior. In a rematch the same year, he regained the heavyweight championship for a third time and retired at age 40.

Muhammad Ali recorded 56 wins (37 knockouts) and 5 losses. The most famous bouts were against Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman. He became the first and only three-time lineal Heavyweight Champion of the World.

At 6 feet 3 inches, he was an imposing figure in the ring. He had lightening in his left hand and his footwork was extraordinarily fast, almost balletic. His prime fighting weight was around 210-214 pounds.

In 1984, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He was married four times and had seven daughters and two sons. He had two daughters from extramarital relationships.

Ali was more than a fighter. He was a force of nature – a part of our psyche. His legacy cannot be contained within a boxing ring. A generation of children who watched Ali fight on TV, stood with him as he 'whupped' racial prejudice and fought for religious freedom and equality.

As Ali said, "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

Muhammad Ali was the Greatest.