PHOENIX (AP) – Hindi pa man nabibitiwan ang unang suntok, mistulang nanaig na si Muhammad Ali dahil sa hindi malilimutang mga pahayag laban sa kanyang mga karibal.
Mistulang saling-pusa sa “promotional tour” ang mga tulad nina Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, at George Foreman sa kahanga-hangang pananalita ng tinaguriang “The Greatest”.
Narito ang ilang katagang binitiwan ni Ali sa kabuuan ng kanyang career:
“I saw your wife. You’re not as dumb as you look.” — pabiro niyang sinabi kay dating Pangulo Ferdinand Marcos bago ang laban kay Joe Frazier sa “Thrilla in Manila” noong Oct. 1, 1975.
'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!
“My name is known in Serbia, Pakistan, Morocco. These are countries that don’t follow the Kentucky Derby.” — bahagi ng panayam ng New York Times noong Abril 1977.
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Rumble, young man, rumble.” — bago ang laban kay Sonny Liston noong 1964.
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“I’m king of the world! I’m pretty! I’m a bad man! I shook up the world! I shook up the world! I shook up the world!” — matapos manalo kay Liston noong Pebrero 25, 1964.
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“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” — paninindigan ni Ali sa pag-ayaw na sumapi sa United States Army noong Pebrero 17, 1966.
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“I told you all, all of my critics, that I was the greatest of all time. ... Never make me the underdog until I’m about 50 years old.” — matapos pabagsakin si George Foreman noong Oktubre. 1, 1974.
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“People say I talk so slow today. That’s no surprise. I calculated I’ve taken 29,000 punches. But I earned $57 million and I saved half of it. So I took a few hard knocks. Do you know how many black men are killed every year by guns and knives without a penny to their names? I may talk slow, but my mind is OK.” — sa kanyang pagdalo sa benefit program para kay boxer Sugar Ray Seales noong Enero 20, 1984.
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“What I suffered physically was worth what I’ve accomplished in life. A man who is not courageous enough to take risks will never accomplish anything in life.” — sa isang news conference sa Houston noong Oktubre 28, 1984.
