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.

Akari Sports wala pang balak pasukin ang PBA

Akari Sports wala pang balak pasukin ang PBA

“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.