PHOENIX (AP) – Pinananabikan ang bawat news conference at training sessions ni Ali, hindi lamang dahil sa kanyang aura kundi ang pagnanais na marinig ang kanyang pagtula.

Hindi lamang sa boxing mahusay si Muhammad Ali. Ikinukumpara siya sa mga pamosong poet ang kanyang kapanahunan tulad nina Robert Frost at Maya Angelou.

Bilang pagpupugay sa kanyang husay, galing at pagiging matalinong atleta, narito ang ilang halimbawa ng kanyang mga tula:

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Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!

“Everyone knew when I stepped in town, I was the greatest fighter around.

A lot of people called me a clown, But I am the one who called the round.

The people came to see a great fight, But all I did was put out the light.

Never put your money against Cassius Clay, For you will never have a lucky day.”

— 1962, kilala pa si Ali bilang Cassius Clay.

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“Now Clay swings with a right, what a beautiful swing.

And the punch raises the Bear clear out of the ring.

Liston is still rising, and the ref wears a frown.

For he can’t start counting ‘til Sonny comes down.

Now Liston disappears from view.

The crowd is getting frantic, But our radar stations have picked him up.

He’s somewhere over the Atlantic.

Who would have thought when they came to the fight That they’d witness the launching of a human satellite.

Yes, the crowd did not dream when they lay down their money That they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny.

I am the greatest.”

— bahagi ng kanyang tula nang talunin ang noo’y kinatatakutan na si Sonny Liston, Feb. 25, 1964.

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“Joe’s gonna come out smokin’, But I ain’t gonna be jokin’.

This might shock and amaze ya, But I’m going to destroy Joe Frazier.”

— ginawa niya bago ang kabiguan kay Joe Frazier noong Marso 8, 1971.

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“You think the world was shocked when Nixon resigned?

Wait ‘til I whup George Foreman’s behind.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

His hand can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.

Now you see me, now you don’t.

George thinks he will, but I know he won’t.

I done wrassled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale.

Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick.

I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.”

— bago ang panalo kay George Foreman noong Oct. 30, 1974.

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“I got speed and endurance.

You’d better increase your insurance.”