The Greatest

He would come to the gym and he didn’t get a ride to the gym, he didn’t have no car, he would run. He would run across the causeway.

Mohammad Ali, one of my great heroes, had a great line in the ‘70s when he was asked: “How many sit-ups do you do?” He said: “I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting, when I feel pain, that’s when I start counting, because that’s when it really counts.” That’s what makes you a champion.

Jerry, I’m the greatest fighter that ever stepped foot in the ring. Money will be lost that night. This will be the biggest upset in the century of all boxing. I think you’re a big bag of wind. The damndest showman that ever lived, and you ain’t kidding anybody.

The odds were 7-to-1. It’s very bid odds… for a heavyweight championship fight.
It has to be Liston. Liston is a much bigger puncher.

While these big mouth people talking about I talking too much. Well, I want all of them to be there. And I’m gonna shut up all of these mouths.

And Cassius Clay has won after six rounds…

Cassius is not my name no more.

You want to keep calling me a white man’s name. I’m not white.

Ali continues to scream at Terrell.

He beat the hell out of those who didn’t want to use his name.

Mr. Muhammad Ali has just refused to be inducted into the United States Armed Forces.

I’m just about broke. I’m not allowed to work here now in America.

I’m gonna fight, not for me, but to uplift my little brothers who are sleeping on concrete floors today in America.

He wanted to become famous to help people. It’s a wonderful ……

I’m gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. George can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.

All you chumps are gonna bow when I whoop him, all of you, I know you got him, I know you’ve got him picked, but the man’s in trouble, I’m gonna show you how great I am.

I bluffed him, I have done everthing. Beat him up, basically for about five or six rounds. I thought it was easy. Then about the sixth round, he whispered in my ear, after I’d hit him in the side, “That all you got, George?”

And never talk about who’s gonna stop me. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me.

I must be the greatest. I shook up the world. I shook up the world.

I told you all, all of my critcs, that I was the greatest of all time.

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

When you’re a kid, you always bet some fellas, “I’m gonna be champion one day, and when I’m champion, I’m gonna come back and show.” And then I say, “Guys, I’m gonna be a great doctor one day. And I’m gonna be a dentist. I’m gonna be a great scientist. I’m gonna be the President of the country.” And there are very few people actually are able to make good of the boasts and come home and say, “I told you.”