9:07
- ABC News
- June 4, 2016
Obama, Celebrities, Athletes Pay Tribute to Muhammad Ali
Mike Tyson, Larry King, Naomi Campbell are among those remembering the boxer.
9:07
Former president George W. Bush released a statement on Ali's passing, remembering when he awarded the legendary boxer with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the highest civilian award in the United States.
\"Muhammad Ali was an iconic and historic figure who thrilled, entertained, influenced, and inspired millions. Americans will always be proud to have been in his corner and called him one of our own,\" the statement read. \"Laura and I send our heartfelt condolences to Muhammad Ali's family and friends.\"
Fellow boxers Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Roy Jones, Jr., were also among the first to tweet about the loss of their friend.
Tyson wrote, \"God came for his champion. So long great one.\"
God came for his champion. So long great one. @MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #RIP pic.twitter.com/jhXyqOuabi
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) June 4, 2016
Mayweather wrote on Instagram, \"Today my heart goes out to a pioneer, a true legend, and a hero by all means!\"
A photo posted by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Jun 4, 2016 at 12:00am PDT
De La Hoya captioned a photo of himself with Ali, \"RIP @muhammadali, a legend who transcended sport and was a true champion for all. #thegreatest #MuhammadAli.\"
RIP @muhammadali, a legend who transcended sport and was a true champion for all. #thegreatest #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/vjmXlXaHip
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) June 4, 2016
Jones tweeted, \"My heart is deeply saddened yet both appreciative and relieved that the greatest is now resting in the greatest place,\" and posted a photo of Ali on his Facebook page, as well.
My heart is deeply saddened yet both appreciative and relieved that the greatest is now resting in the greatest place.
— Roy Jones Jr. (@RealRoyJonesJr) June 4, 2016
George Foreman also took to Twitter, writing a series of tweets remembering his friend.
Ralph Ali, Frazier & Foreman we were 1 guy. A part of me slipped away, \"The greatest piece\" https://t.co/xVKOc9qtub
— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016
In a telephone interview with BBC Radio 4 today, Foreman said he will never forget the infamous \"Rumble in the Jungle\" fight on a humid evening in Kinshasha, capital of the former Zaire, in 1974. Ali fought then-champion Foreman and won back the title in eight rounds.
\"I'll remember that with the most fond of memories,\" Foreman said on BBC Radio 4. \"What a night! I was in the ring with one of the greatest human beings.\"
Foreman said calling Ali the world's greatest boxer is \"an insult.\"
\"The greatest boxer? Give that to some boxer. Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest human beings I ever met in my life,\" Foreman said on BBC Radio 4 today. “A piece of me died when he passed away, and I call it the greatest piece.”
Public figures from the worlds of media, business, and Hollywood also joined in the remembrance of Ali.
Justin Bieber posted a photo of Ali on Instagram, writing, \"This is the ALI we should all remember! The fun loving man who was fully himself!! RIP CHAMP!!!\"
This is the ALI we should all remember! The fun loving man who was fully himself!! RIP CHAMP!!!
A photo posted by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Jun 3, 2016 at 9:59pm PDT
Sean \"Diddy\" Combs posted on Instagram a photo of himself, his son and Ali at a basketball game, writing \"Thank you for always showing me and my family love. He was so kind to everyone he met! I want my son @princejdc to always cherish this moment. #RIPALI we miss you. We love you. You have changed the world. And taught us all something REST IN PEACE GREAT ONE\"
A photo posted by @iamdiddy on Jun 3, 2016 at 10:53pm PDT
Rapper and actor Snoop Dogg posted a series of tweets with photos, including this one with the two of them.
The champ and I. At his 70th??????????????????? https://t.co/AiTuwCylxC pic.twitter.com/TE54PVYN8p
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) June 4, 2016
The first of the Kardashian-Jenner sisters to post a tribute to Ali was Kylie Jenner, who posted a black-and-white photo of Ali.
A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Jun 3, 2016 at 10:03pm PDT
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey tweeted a black-and-white photo of Ali in the ring, writing, \"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.\"
\"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.\" RIP #TheGreatest pic.twitter.com/rg86mik9I4
— Jack (@jack) June 4, 2016
Actor Billy Crystal tweeted a vintage clip of himself doing a stand-up routine about Ali, writing \"For the greatest man I have ever known.\"
For the greatest man I have ever known. https://t.co/OUZHVZWBHY
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) June 3, 2016
Talk show host Larry King tweeted, \"I mourn the passing of #MuhammadAli. He was indeed \"The Greatest.\" An American legend & a true Champion for the world. #RIPMuhammadAli\"
I mourn the passing of #MuhammadAli. He was indeed \"The Greatest.\" An American legend & a true Champion for the world. #RIPMuhammadAli
— Larry King (@kingsthings) June 4, 2016
Supermodel Naomi Campbell, posted a couple of tweets remembering Ali, including one with a photo of the boxer with Nelson Mandela.
#my2heros ?????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/nOweammxHB
— Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) June 4, 2016
Singer Lionel Richie tweeted a photo of himself with Ali, writing \"You will always be my hero.\"
You will always be my hero ... #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/Rbp7Be3JAK
— Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) June 4, 2016
Filmmaker Michael Moore tweeted about Ali, acknowledging his political significance, writing \"Ali- we will NEVER forget your courage, standing up to those in power. You gave up your title & your career rather than kill Vietnamese. RIP\"
Ali- we will NEVER forget your courage, standing up to those in power. You gave up your title & your career rather than kill Vietnamese. RIP
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) June 4, 2016
Soccer star David Beckham took to Instagram twice to post photos of Ali, one of which included a quote from the boxer.
A photo posted by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Jun 4, 2016 at 12:37am PDT
Singer Madonna also weighed in on Instagram, posting several photos honoring Ali. \"Words cannot express. He shook up the World!\" she wrote.
A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Jun 3, 2016 at 9:58pm PDT
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, called Ali \"a true Muslim\" and \"a champion for peace and justice.\"
\"Muhammad Ali, a man who stood by his principles despite criticism and hardship, exemplified a true patriot and a true Muslim,\" CAIR national board chair Roula Allouch said in an online statement Saturday. \"His strength, courage and love of humanity has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to people of all faiths and backgrounds in America and worldwide.\"
\"Ali's legacy as a champion for peace and justice will motivate generations to come to make our world a better place,\" CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad said in the statement. \"To God we belong and to Him we return.\"
#RIPMuhammadAli - #CAIR Calls Muhammad Ali a 'Champion for Peace and Justice' https://t.co/iIqfPPLXTE
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) June 4, 2016
ABC News' Alexandra Faul and Christopher Donato contributed to this report.
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