good morning, everyone. i'm christi paul. >>i'm joe johns in for victor blackwell. we begin with the breaking news this morning. as you wake up, i'm sure you are learning boxing legend muhammad ali has died. >> just a real surprise. he was sick in 2014, he was sick in 2015 and a lot of people were saying this is just another episode but he'll be fine. we discover overnight that the greatest is gone. >> yeah. he actually had been in the hospital on thursday. but as joe mentioned, ali is known as the greatest to a world

of fans. he passed away after this 32-year battle with parkinson's disease. muhammad ali, don't know if you are aware, he was born cassius clay in 1942 in louisville, k kentucky and started boxing at the age of 12. he went on of course to become three-time world heavyweight champion. >> as so many people know, in 1964 he joined the nation of islam, changed his name to muhammad ali after his retirement as parkinson's disease began to take away his motor skills, he became really an ambassador of peace and he raised millions of dollars for charity. the boxing champ was married four times. he is survived by nine children. >> muhammad ali led a pretty inspirational life when all is said an done. obviously has incredible boxing career but he had such strong work for hx causes and he never stopped fighting for what he believed in. he is known as a very principled man. >> and he always spoke out, quite clearly. cnn's wolf blitzer takes a look

now at the boxing legend's life. >> this is the legend of moment ali. the greatest fighter there ever will be. >> reporter: he proclaimed himself "the greatest." and millions of fans around the world agreed. >> float like a butter flu thbug like a bee. >> reporter: his charisma would make him one of the world's best known personalities. but his persona began to emerge long before he captured his first heavyweight championship. he was born kashs marcellus clay jr. in louisville, kentucky during an ugly era of racial segregation in america. at 12 years old, ali aworld would change forever when a local police officer introduced him to boxing. it became an outlet for his

rage. >> cassius clay of chicago challenging jerry gosh. >> reporter: it also offered ali an opportunity to develop his remarkable talent. just six years later ali would bring home a gold medal from the 1960 summer olympic games in rome. he'd turn pro at the age of just 18, and at 22 he stunned the boxing world defeating a fighter the experts thought was invincible. sonny liston. ali had arrived. he put liston away for the second time the next year. civil rights would also become a controversial and polarizing period in his life. he renounced his given name and joined the volatile black separatist nation of islam. almost as quick as he had arrived, ali aheavyweight title

was gone revoked after he claimed conchen success objector status and refused to serve in the vietnam war. at the peak boxing age of 25, ali also gave up millions of dollars in endorsements and faced five years in prison, all in defiance of a war he called disspespicable and unjust. >> my intention is to box, to win a clean fight. but in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and continue killing innocent people! >> reporter: ali began a three and a half year exile from championship fights until the u.s. supreme court overturned his conviction on a technicality. >> better not fight like that with ali. no contest. >> reporter: but the world would soon learn that even superman has his off days. ali was barely back in the ring when his undefeated professional record came to an end. he lost to joe frazier in the

1971 match dubbed "the fight of the century." it was the first of three fights with smokin' joe. >> joe's going to come out smokin', but i ain't going to be jokin'. i'll be peckin' and a pokin', pouring water on his smokin'. this might shock and amaze ya, but this time i retire joe frazier. >> reporter: and retire him he did. the thriller in manila was given to ali on a technical knockout. ali was on a roll again. but his greatest eses eses ese ali knocked out the heavily favored young champion, george foreman. it was called the rumble in the jungle. his last fight in 1981 would mark the beginning of another battle that ali described as his toughest. the diagnosis that he was

afflicted with parkinson's disease. after two decades of redefining the heth division, ali was forced to retire. his lifetime record -- 56 victories, just five defeats. but he never retreated from living a very public life. in 1996, ali provided one of the most poignant moments in sports history. with 3 billion people watching, he lit the olympic flame at the summer games in atlanta. his hands trembling but never wavering. ali remained the consummate showman. as his condition grew progressively worse, ali struggled each day to whisper a word. his hands and legs shook. and his voice quivered. >>cy am the greatest. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: yet his spirit was never shaken and he never slowed down from serving as an ambassador for peace and a

mediator in world conflicts. in 2005, ali was presented with the presidential medal of freedom award, the nation's highest civilian honor. >> when you say the greatest of all time is in the room, everyone knows who you mean. [ applause. >> reporter: and tributes for the champ continue. >> how do you feel about getting the honor tonight? >> reporter: ali was one of the most gifted and unique personalities in sports history. the world may never see the likes of him again. in the final chapter, few would argue that ali needed the crowds as much as they needed him. not for mere validation, but because each saw in the other the best in themselves. >> ali's got left, ali's got right, if he hits you once you'll sleep for the night. and as you lie on the floor

while the ref counts ten, hope and frpray that you never meet again. >> you heard some of his quotes there. i posted one on my twitter page as well. but one that i love most from him is the man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. it is one of those that makes you go, i'm not going to waste any more time. >> so much of what he said was timeless. >> he went into the hospital on thursday, they thought this was just another blip but he did spend his final moments there at a hospital in scottsdale, arizona. we know, fortunately, he was surrounded by close family and friends. >> that is where we find dan simon live tonight. dan, this sudden death came as a bit of a surprise. >> reporter: no question about it. details are thin, but when he

was first brought here on thursday we were told by a family spokesperson that this was going to be a brief visit, that he was in fair condition. so i think the speed at which this all occurred caught many people off-guard. we know that he had some kind of respiratory problem which can be common in people with advanced parkinson's. so again, this happened very quickly. he did have this respiratory issue but at this respiratory issue but we aren't many told much more at this point. >> it's been decades, his fighting with parkinson's. these respiratory issues as well. what is his family saying, if anything? i know it hasn't been that long. have they announced funeral plans? some are talking about something in louisville this morning. >> reporter: that's right. at this point his family is requesting privacy. we haven't gotten any statements

from them as of now. we know that there's going to be a media briefing in phoenix on saturday afternoon. in a few hours from now. that's when we expect to begin hearing details about the funeral. at this point again we don't have any details other than the fact we know that it is going to be in louisville, kentucky, in hoped ali's hometown. >> he's really become part of the phoenix community there, hasn't he? >> reporter: you know, that's right. of course, he did grow up in louisville but for the past several years of his life he did live in phoenix. this is where he spent his final years. he became a part of this community. he loved phoenix and the community loved him. it wasn't uncommon for him to go to restaurants and be visible in the community even in his advanced parkinson's stage. of course he was very frail. the last time we saw him was back in april at a charity event. so it was clear that his health

problems were worsening, but again, i don't think anybody expected to see this happen. >> when you think about 74? does seem quite young. >> it does. >> dan simon, we appreciate it so much. thank you. sports analyst christine brennan shares her personal memories of muhammad ali, including the 1996 olympics when he made a surprise appearance. and you know what? our own pamela brown has some personal memories of the champ, including the story -- look at this -- behind this photo. that is her with him at her home. she's going to share her stories in a moment. stay close. (vo) whatever your perfect temperature...

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you have the people who grew up with muhammad ali and followed his brashness, followed his anger, his power, his fight with the government. and then his victories over the years. then you have the young girl audience that is really sort being reintroduced to this figure, a brash bombastic boxer, three-time world champion dying at the age of 74. a revered fighter for his quick feet, even faster punches. a man remembered for his contribution to civil rights. his early and vocal objection to the vietnam war, one that cost him several years as a boxer. >> for more on the life and legacy of muhammad ali, cnn sports analyst christine brennan is with us. so good to see you again, sadly under these circumstances, of course. i know you followed his career. i want to ask you about one pivotal moment when you were covering the olympics in '96 here in atlanta and nobody knew who was going to come out with

the torch to light the flame. it was a surprise. and it ended up being him. tell us about that moment. >> well, as you know, who was going to light the cauldron at any opening ceremonies at olympics is really the biggest story of the olympics before they begin. so every day this constant drum beat of who is it going to be, names are floated around. the biggest names in a country. the hero or heroin of a nation. someone who's just going to be known forever as the person who was -- had this great honor of lighting the cauldron. so the torch -- the flame of course has arrived, comes into atlanta, eventually comes into stadium. i'm there covering the olympics, as are many others. everyone is looking. all of a sudden janet evans, the great olympic swimmer, who was still competing actually is up there. and the flame is passed to her. and you're thinking, it's janet evans who's going to light this? and at that moment, in the darkness, that friday night in

atlanta in 1976 -- or 1996, out of that darkness emerges muhammad ali. if it's possible for 80,000 people to gasp in unison as one, that was the sound at that moment in that stadium. as janet evans passed the flame over to muhammad ali and then he, with a shaking arm, nonetheless, did his job, did it beautifully and lighted the cauldron to begin the 1996 atlanta olympics. it was a breathtaking moment watched by billions around the world. and a wonderful tribute to a man who started his fame and fortune at the olympic games. >> the other half of this is, we talk about him being a hero, an icon, a larger than life figure. but he wasn't just revered. he was also reviled by some boxing fans, especially back in the day. why was he such a lightning rod

and so divisive? >> joe, i think we have to set this conversation, as you both know well, of course in the 1960s. and this is as the vietnam war is raging, as civil rights issues are absolutely at the highest temperature level you could have in our country. the terrible things that happened with martin luther king and robert kennedy a couple years later. and into this charges muhammad ali, cassius clay at the time. and when he said he wasn't going to go to vietnam and was a conscientious objector, at a time when you still had a lot of people -- millions of people in this country saying, love it or leave it. you've got to represent your nation. you've got to go fight. and he said no. and at a time that, now looking back, it makes perfect sense. back then it was -- the nation was torn in many directions. certainly torn in two. and in to this came muhammad ali and he, of course, became a leader in that way. you have to keep in mind, he

actually threw his olympic gold medal into the ohio river. he was a man that was so angry and upset at such social injustice in this country. before we had all things we had today in the conversations, you had muhammad ali starting those conversations. and i think that's important to remember. but of course, if you do that, there are going to be many people who don't like you. >> that's funny, too, we were just talking about that gold medal story going into the ohio river. i know angelo dundee, among others, former managers, have actually disputed whether he really did that. so that just goes to the level of controversy that is muhammad ali. there are so many things you don't know about him, even as we try to describe his life here this morning. thank you so much, christine brennan. good to see you. >> thank you very much. more than an iconic sports figure, the champ was also well known for speaking out on social issues. >> we'll have more of that. also, cnn's pamela brown and

her fond memories of muhammad ali. the story behind this photo at her dinner table. i'm terrible at golf. he is. but i'd like to keep being terrible at golf for as long as i can. new patented ensure enlive has hmb plus 20 grams of protein to help rebuild muscle. for the strength and energy to do what you love. new ensure enlive. always be you.

shoshow me more like this.e. show me "previously watched." what's recommended for me. x1 makes it easy to find what you love. call or go online and switch to x1. only with xfinity. breaking news this morning. condolences pouring in from around the world for the death of boshxing legend muhammad ali. he had been battling parkinson's

disease for more than 30 years. thursday hospitalized in phoenix with what folks describe as a respiratory issue. muhammad ali was 74 years old. >> he had such a remarkable life not just in the ring but outside as well. that's all enshrined in the muhammad ali center in his hometown of louisville, kentucky. pamela brown has some close ties to the ali family and the ali center. she joins us now from washington. your father was governor from '79 to '83 in kentucky. he is co-founder of the center. i want to throw this picture up if we could please of a little pamela brown at the table with muhammad ali. help us understand what was happening in this picture and what it feels like now to look back at it knowing who he is. >> just such an incredible memory. so, clearly i was a little girl and when i first met muhammad ali, my parents told me we have this really special visitor

coming to the house. and i had no idea. i didn't know what a big deal he was. but when he arrived, i was telling him that i loved card trishgs a tricks and i was really into it at that time. next thing i knew, i sat down, i was showing him my card tricks and he was showing me, teaching me, his card tricks and we had this instant bond. again, i had no idea i was sitting at the table with one of the greatest men who has ever lived. i just thought he was really cool because he knew great card tricks. and it was kind of our thing. whenever i would see muhammad ali as a little girl, we would sit down at the table, like you see right here, and we would just hang out and do tricks for each other. this picture right here was right before we went to church. i think this was when i realized for the first time like, wow, he's a pretty big deal. we went to church in lexington,

kentucky. and of course we were late because we always were late to church. and we walked in and, i mean, everyone -- there was sort of a gas. like, oh, my gosh, muhammad ali is here. everyone turned to look. and you could just -- it was awe inspiring. you could just tell people were just so honored to be in his presence. and i have to say, my favorite memory of muhammad ali growing up was when he was our guest at the kentucky derby and we were walking to the paddock to see the horses. he grabbed down and he held my hand. and we were about to walk through the grandstands. next thing i knew, every single person at churchill downs in the grandstands stood up and they were chanting "ali! ali! ali!" and he's holding my hand and i am thinking, this is the most surreal moment of my entire life. just imagine that. all of churchill downs and they're cheering him on, and he

thrived off of that! you could tell, he loved it. he loved being in the spotlight, making people happy and he would just stop. he let go of my hand and you would do the one-two punch move that he loved to do and put a big smile on people's faces. he just loved making everyone happy. he just left such an indelible mark on people really all around the world, including myself. >> you really sort of point out an interesting feature of muhammad ali that's not talked about so much, and that is his connection with children. he really seemed to be the kind of man who loved children and children, in turn, loved him. >> it's so true! joe, i remember -- i was thinking back on all these memories. when i was a little girl, he gravitated toward me. had he this little twinkle in his lie and you could tell he just loved being around me and my friends. you saw my friend tory at the time in my picture. he loved being around kids. that's what when he seemed the happiest. there were all these adults

around but he wanted to hang out with me and my friend. i think we were like 10 years old at the time and he really did love kids. here is a picture of my friend tory and i. he had this big smile on his face when he was around us. it's so true. you make a really good point there, joe, that he just loved kids. he seemed so happy around them. >> interesting, there is a piece floating around cnn right now where there's actual video of muhammad ali talking to one of his daughters on the phone. it appeared that even though she was a very young child, he still actually asked her for counsel and advice and talked about, well, should i go back into the ring? should i go and fight again? >> she's going no! no, don't do it! not that he listened to her. but, yeah, i think he seemed to have that ability to make everybody around him feel important. >> i just want to point out that his wife, lonnie, is just such an incredible person and had a big influence on him. yes, he will parkinson's.

but he didn't let that hold him back. i think lonnie ali deserves a lot of credit for that as with el. >> it's got to be hard for her to see him deteriorating the way that he did and seeing that disease taking him over and yet you could still see that spirit in him. no doubt about it. pamela, thank you so much. we really appreciate you being here and sharing that with us. it is so unique and what a moment. >> happy to do if. >> of course. thank you. we'll see her a little bit later as well. we've been saying that muhammad ali who is remembered as this sports legend. a lot of people on twitter, facebook, they're having their reactions to this. athletes specifically have a lot to say about it. just how big of a loss was muhammad ali? while we were sleeping, the top ten trending hashtags on twitter, all of them, muhammad ali related. simply, this man known as the greatest. we'll see what they had to say coming up.

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passed away at the age of 74 after years of suffering from parkinson's disease. ali was an icon, not just of the boxing world. he also championed humanitarian causes after he retired. born as cassius clay, he started boxing at the age of 12 after someone stole his bicycle and went on to become three-time heavyweight champion. moments after the death of the former heavyweight boxing champ, muhammad ali, millions of people took to social media, with i, which by the way wasn't even around when he was boxing. >> coy, you are right. every hashtag has to do with muhammad ali. >> the impact on a global scale, just staggering. all top ten trending hashtags muhammad ali related. george foreman, a guy known for the rumble in the jungle with ali, he posted, ali, frazier and foreman. we were one guy. a part of me slipped away, the greatest piece. that's powerful.

former heavyweight champ mike tyson, god came for his champion. so long, great one. muhammad ali, the greatest. hey about floyd mayweather, known for showing his stacks of cash, posting pictures of stacks of cash. this is muhammad ali in a bank vault. he said not a day went by entering the gym that i didn't think of you. thank you for everything you've done for black america, in the world of sports and entertainment and for the legacy you leave behind. boxer roy jones jr. held a record seven belts at the same time. he said r.i.p. to one of the greatest to ever step in the ring. one of the most powerful quotes i say was after ali defeated foreman in the rumble in the jungle, foreman said, in part, he is the greatest man i've ever known. not a great boxer. that's too small for him. he's not pretty, he's beautiful. everything america should be, muhammad ali is. that's powerful words from someone who was a great foe. >> who was an opponent. >> yeah. just larger than life. but across the board, too,

that's the thing. he transcends sports in so many ways. the three-time world heavyweight champion leaving behind an incredible legacy not just in the ring but as an outspoken fighter for social justice in the '60s, a man who embraced his faith and a man who never stopped using his celebrity for good. joining us now, cnn political commentator mark omat. first your thoughts on the passing of muhammad ali. >> i'm devastated. when i got the notice a few days ago that he was sick, i prayed that it would be like 2015 and 2014 when the champ once again was able to dip and dodge and survive just like he used to do in the ring. but this time he passed away. and one of my heroes. one of the people i looked to my entire life as a model of what was possible. not just as an athlete but as a citizen, as a person, as a principled human being. that person is gone.

honestly, my heart is very heavy right now. muhammad ali was the greatest. and the fact that we could have hours of conversation about muhammad ali and not even mention the fact that he's the greatest athlete of all time is a testimony to how extraordinary he was outside the ring. and again, i'm devastated. the nation is devastated. the global community is devastated. he meant so much to so many people. >> i read one of his quotes was something that he said way back in the day. he said hating people because of their color is wrong and it doesn't matter which color does the hating. it is just plain wrong. what can we take today from him that can help nurture and heal this world, do you think? >> well, muhammad ali moved through the world in the spirit of love, whether it's the way he engaged small children, whether it is the money he donated to synagogues, whether it is the way that he spread islam around the world as a religion of peace. all of these things are evidence that muhammad ali was an extraordinary person who believed that we could love our

way through this world. but let's be very clear. muhammad ali also understood that the world could only heal when injustice was eliminated. he wasn't just a champion of love, he was a champion of justice. in 1967 muhammad ali became an enemy of the state. muhammad ali was someone when he refused to go to vietnam was someone who stood up for what he believed. he was saying that i can't support imperialism. i can't support this war. and that same spirit of love, like dr. king, carried him throughout decades. when i think about muhammad ali's legacy, i think of someone who says with be look, we have to make the world right. we have to make the world equal. we have to make the world fair. not for one race, not for one race, not for one religion, or gender. for everybody. >> first he moved to the nation of islam, then he moved to

sunnism, then he became something else. he was much more complex. >> he was complex. it is important to understand the impact and influence of the honorable elijah islam which produces these extraordinary figures. but as muhammad ali transsignificantran transitioned in 1975 to a more traditional sunni-islamic and following the path of islam -- elijah's son formed the new vision of the nation. he became more broad, more universe. >> caller: and more cosmopolitan, not just in his religion but in his political thought. later in 2000 he does become suthi which doesn't have different fundamental beliefs as sunni islam but it is a kind of inward looking self and even greater kind of investment in peace. there is no way you could look at muhammad ali and not sea

peace. not sea the way islam helped hip find his center, helped him find his relationship to god but also helped him remain and sustain his commitment to making the world better. >> marc lamont hill, thanks so much for coming in this morning. a former british boxer is sharing his memories of the champ. stay close.

the greatest, as he was known, is gone this morning. muhammad ali passed a i way overnight. he was 74 years old. >> tributes have been pouring in from all over the world. his death comes after a lengthy battle with parkinson's disease. he was diagnosed with parkinson's in 1984, three years after he retired from a boxing career that began when a 12-year-old amateur from louisville, kentucky laced up the gloves. >> "sports illustrated" has photographed ali throughout his career. >> the photograph shares some stories behind some of the most famous photos of the greatest. >> i like to call what ali has visual charisma. there are some people that like the camera. mohammed, whether he was in the ring or in the studio, he has

this charisma. he just seems to do whatever the things are that one does to make good pictures. muhammad ali turned 70 on january 17th. i first photographed ali as a 19-year-old kid and i've been lucky enough to ride his coat tails for the last 50-plus years. i've done 35 of his fights. then i've had my photographs of muhammad on the cover of "sports illustrated" 12 times. i'm often asked do i have one favorite photograph. my favorite picture, ever, is a remote camera looking straight down on the apron at the cleveland williams/ali fight in 1966. it is far and away my favorite picture, much more -- i don't want to say more important to me than ali standing over sonny liston because i know my legacy is going to be that picture. but you had to be in the right seat at the liston/ali fight. so i was in the right seat. the cleveland williams picture

had nothing to do with luck. it was something i thought about, it was something i made happen. it was something i worked on to get it perfect. and it is the only picture i've taken in my life where, even today, i look at it, and there isn't anything i would change. you talk to anybody that was lucky enough to cover muhammad ali during his boxing career and even now. and they're all in love with him. and the reason for it is muhammad ali never ran out of time for anybody. i'd come back to "sports illustrated" with the pictures, they go, geez, you're genius. he would come in and say you got 20 minutes today. you took too long last time neil. an hour later he was suggesting things. most recent one in a lot of ways maybe is the most exciting. it was a fabulous experience and i found that if i waited patiently for the right time of day, he's not going to look

better. i always thought it was my own ideas, then suddenly something happens. magic happens. with ali on this recent shoot, the lead picture in the magazine is this thing he's done for a million years when he gets in that boxing pose. well, i didn't ask him to do that. he was standing there and suddenly he turned in to the old fighter. and he just knows -- he just makes good pictures. >> you just can never take the fight out of him. never take the fight out of him. >> that's incredible. a former british boxer has some memories of the champ. he's going to join us in sujust second so we can talk to him about what he remembers of muhammad ali and what he'll take away from him now. stay close.

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we're following the sad news this morning, the death of boxing legend muhammad ali. this is a boxer and a man who took the world by storm with his prowess. later in life he became a champion of humanitarian causes. >> we are seeing such and outpouring of condolences from people all over the world this morning. all over twitter and facebook, social media. his legacy's being credited with knocking down barriers for some of the world's greatest boxers, past and present. one of those people is with us, former british boxer and world champion chris eubank.

thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us and we're sorry for your loss here in a sense, because i know that you look at ali as this man who defied all odds. you've had the chance to meet him. first of all, help us understand the impact that he had on you. >> well, thank you. it is my privilege to actually be here and to speak on behalf of i suppose the public. certainly the boxing fraternity. the magnitude of this man and -- i should first say that i am not mourning. i am celebrating this man. okay? because in my mind from the time i've been a child growing up, it was him who inspired me to actually become a fighter. but not just a fighter but a humanitarian, a person who contributes towards the community at large. so his vibrance, his brilliance is something that is within us all. and certainly some of us have been able to actually use his

inspiration to make ourselves better people. >> how have you done that? how do you feel you are a better person because o muhammad ali? >> because, i had the audacity to stand on the shoulders of men like muhammad ali. so i could see further and do more and support the community at large which is exactly what he did. and so the greatest tribute we -- certainly i can pay to muhammad ali is from this day forth live with his memory and his inspiration. the beacon that he was to live with and carry myself the way in which he did, that is to support the community at large. in fact, david cameron would like to say to him, i would put my own money to have a statue, a bronze statue, three times the size of the man, four times the size of the man, in hyde park

here in the united kingdom, something that we should do as a fund and an actual fact, around the world that could be done in the emirates, it could be done in new york. it should be done in paris. we should celebrate him. and regardless of whether that happens or not, and certainly i would push and use my own money to fund such a thing, certainly his light shines bright in the working class and us a has. you had first jack johnson, then you had the brown bomber in -- the brown bomber, then you had muhammad ali. you've had the greats. and these men are men that the public at large, the working class has looked up to. so muhammad ali being the inspiration that he is certainly, certainly we owe some

type of tribute with bronze statues around the world. it would be a great thing and i'd be very much willing to use my own money to start the first in hyde park in united kingdom. >> i think that you have just started what may be a challenge to other people to include their money and to erect statues of muhammad ali throughout the world as you have talked about. chris eubank, thank you so much for sharing with us. we appreciate it. >> there is actually more than a few of those monuments around the world as it is, as a matter of fact. next hour, we'll talk to cnn's pamela brown. she's going to join us with her father to share a side of the champ few people knew. her dad is co-founder of the muhammad ali center in kentucky. when my doctor told me i have age-related macular degeneration, amd

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stay at over 1000 americas and canadas best value inns stay at over 1000 americas and canadas best value inns room discounts instant rewards and a home town touch we do have breaking news to share with you this morning. so grateful for your company, as always. i'm christi paul. >> i'm joe johns in for victor blackwell. the breaking news that we want to share with you this morning, if you're just waking up. boxing legend muhammad ali has died and there is an outpouring of condolences from people all over the world this morning. we'll talk about that but i want to give you the latest here. the baching icon passed away. he was 74 years old. he battled parkinson's disease for 32 years but he is known for his flawless boxing style, his brash trash talking during matches. he was three times world

heavyweight champ. >> but you know what? his contribution didn't end there. even after he retired and he was diagnosed with parkinson's disease which probably had to do with the fact that he got hit in the head so many times, he continued to fight and now outside the boxing ring for humanitarian causes raising money for charity. cnn's wolf blitzer is going to take a look now at his inspirational life. >> this the legend of muhammad ali. float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. >> reporter: those phrases became ali's motto. his charisma outside the ring would also make him one of the world's best known personalities. but his persona began to emerge

long before he captured his first heavyweight championship. he was born cassius marcellus clay jr. in louisville, kentucky during an ugg gla ely era of ra segregation in america. at 12 years old ali's world would change forever when a local police officer introduced him to boxing. it became an outlet for his rage. >> reporter: it also offered ali an opportunity to develop his remarkable talent. just six years later ali would bring home a gold medal from the 1960 summer olympic games in rome. he'd turn pro at the age of just 18, and at 22 he stunned the boxing world defeating a fighter the experts thought was invincible. sonny liston. ali had arrived. and liston would never be the same. to prove the point, ali put liston away for a second time in

a rematch the next year. they were glory days for ali, but the civil rights era would also become a controversial and polarizing period in his life. he renounced his given name and joined the volatile black separatist nation of islam. almost as quickly as he had arrived, ali's heavyweight title was gone, revoked after he claimed conchscientious objecto status and refused to serve in the vietnam war. at the peak boxing age of 25, ali also gave up millions of dollars in endorsements and faced five years in prison, all in defiance of a war he called despicable and unjust. >> my intention is to box, to win a clean fight. but in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and continue killing innocent people! >> reporter: ali began a three and a half year exile from championship fights until the u.s. supreme court overturned his conviction on a technicality.

>> for everybody that watches and trains. there is no contest. better not fight like that with ali. >> reporter: but the world would soon learn that even superman has his off days. ali was barely back in the ring when his undefeated professional record came to an end. he lost to joe frazier in the 1971 match dubbed "the fight of the century." it was the first of three fights with smokin' joe. >> joe's going to come out smokin', but i ain't going to be jokin'. i'll be peckin' and a pokin', pouring water on his smokin'. this might shock and amaze ya, but this time i retire joe frazier. >> reporter: and retire him he did. the famous thriller in manila fight ended after frazier's trainer stopped the fight following the 14th round giving ali a technical knockout. ali was on a roll again. but his greatest athletic comeback came in what was then zaire.

>> last week i murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick. i'm so mean i make medicine sick. >> ali knocked out the heavily favored champion george foreman. it was called the rumble in the jungle. his last fight in 1981 would mark the beginning of another battle that ali described as his toughest. the diagnosis that he was afflicted with parkinson's disease. after two decades of redefining the heavyweight division, ali was forced to retire. his lifetime record -- 56 victories, just 5 defeats. but he never retreated from living a very public life. in 1996, ali provided one of the most poignant moments in sports history. with 3 billion people watching, he lit the olympic flame at the summer games in atlanta. his hands trembling but never wavering. ali remained the consummate showman. as his condition grew progressively worse, ali struggled each day to whisper a

word. his hands and legs shook. and his voice quivered. >> i am the greatest. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: yet his spirit was never shaken and he never slowed down from serving as an ambassador for peace and a mediator in world conflicts. in 2005, ali was presented with the presidential medal of freedom award, the nation's highest civilian honor. >> when you say the greatest of all time is in the room, everyone knows who you mean. [ applause ] >> reporter: and tributes for the champ continue. >> how do you feel about getting the honor tonight? >> reporter: ali was one of the most gifted and unique personalities in sports history. the world may never see the likes of him again. in the final chapter, few would argue that ali needed the crowds

as much as they needed him. not for mere validation, but because each saw in the other the best in themselves. >> ali's got left, ali's got right, if he hits you once you'll sleep for the night. and as you lie on the floor while the ref counts ten, hope and pray that you never meet me again. >> muhammad ali was so much of a citizen of the world, grew up if louisville, kentucky. spent his final moments at a hospital in this scottsdale, arizona. he was surrounded by close friends and family, and that is where we find our dan simon live this morning. dan, are you learning anything more about muhammad ali's final moments? >> reporter: hi, joe. details at this point are thin. we do know that he was brought to the hospital on thursday with what was described as a respiratory issue which is

common in patients who have advanced parkinson's. and at first we were led to believe that this was going to be a brief hospital stay according to the family spokesperson, that he was in fair condition. so i think the speed at which this all occurred may have caught a lot of people off guard. of course, he died here at the hospital last night and he was surrounded by friends and family, as you said, joe. >> he's been to the hospital before over the recent years and made it out okay. that is part of the surprise this morning, isn't it. >> reporter: that's right. of course, he had been in failing health. but this really was not expected. he had pulled out, if you will, each time he had been to the hospital. he had been in and out over the years. the last time he was seen in public was back in april at a charity event, and he was frail but he was getting around. and so him coming to the hospital i think was a big

surprise to many. in terms of what's going to happen today here in phoenix, joe, we know that there is going to be a news briefing where we are expected to get some details about the funeral. at this point they haven't released any firm plans other than the fact we know that it is going to be in louisville, kentucky, in muhammad ali's hometown, joe. >> and a memorial service in louisville today as far as we know. is that correct? >> reporter: that's exactly right. we don't have a whole lot of details about that either but certainly the city is going to be offering an opportunity for people in that community to mourn the life of muhammad ali. i can tell you that here at the hospital, joe, things have been a bit quiet. but overnight we did see people lighting candles, dropping off little mementos, things of that nature. i would expect that to continue throughout the day. >> only the beginning, no doubt, of an enormous remembrance of a

world icon in fact. thanks so much for that, dan simon. still to come -- there is a side of muhammad ali that most people would never know, people that didn't get to meet him. well, cnn's pamela brown did. we're going to talk to her and get the story behind this picture. yes, that is her with muhammad ali. also, how can anyone forget these images of muhammad ali later in life? long and public fight he had with what was really his toughest opponent -- parkinson's disease. it took a toll on him. what are you doing? getting faster. huh?

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breaking news this morning is that the world has lost muhammad ali at the age of 74. people all over twitter and facebook and social media talking about him, remembering him. thinking of his family. certainly thoughts and prayers to them today. but he has certainly been somebody who had just taken the boxing world by storm and then transcended it into so many other areas of life where he proved to be such an inspiration to people. >> changed boxing and i think he also changed the world in many ways standing up to the vietnam war at a time when the united states was torn over the issue. he changed our views of spirituality in some ways, going from a baptist upbringing generally to the nation of

islam, on to sunni islam. his last challenge being parkinson's disease which was the thing he carried with him for over 30 years. >> lis daughter, laila ali, posted this photo of her daughter sidney with him. >> she followed him into boxing. >> she did follow him into boxing. i always have to wonder what he thought seeing her there. he had been there, he into you how tough it was. do you wish that for your daughter? you know? it's that kind of thing. but you know he was her biggest fan. boxing promoter kelly maloney is with us now. perhaps best known for managing lennox lewis when he won the heavyweight title in 1992. kelly, thank you so much for

taking the time to be with us. i understand that you had met muhammad ali on several occasions. help us understand what you remember about this man that you will always take with us. >> well, the first time i had the privilege of seeing muhammad ali in the flesh was he was still cassius clay. it was in london. i was very lucky to skip school and manage to get into the gymnasium he was going to work out at. he just sort of mesmerized the whole room. people just stood in awe of this man. i think i was about 14 at the time. maybe a little bit younger. it was then i realized i wanted to get into boxing and work with heavyweight boxers. then i met him may 29th after one of the lennox lewis fights. we got the privilege of meeting

him. had an audience with him. and it was just fantastic being in the room with lennox lewis who was current world heavyweight champion and whose hero was muhammad ali. and to hear lennox talk about muhammad and how he inspired lennox to go into the boxing room and to hear muhammad pay lewis compliments him and call lennox champ was the most amazing, humble feeling i've ever witnessed. >> kelly, we call him the greatest. that's the nickname he's gone by for years and years. but could you give me a sense from the boxing perspective what is the biggest lasting mark that muhammad ali will leave on the sport? >> i don't know because there are so many great moments.

everyone talks about the fight with the rumble in the jungle with george foreman, but my great fight that i remember was the thriller in manila with joe frazier when both of them were on the point of actually exhaustion coming out for the last round. and joe frazier's trainer in the end just waved his hands. and ali admitted, i'm so glad he had done it because i would have collapsed in that next round. i think that is an amazing compliment. think that was one of the best fights i ever witnessed as a young person. i saved money for the first joe frazier-muhammad ali fight on closed circuit. even then. to just watch this man, his fights with ken norton, his fights with george foreman. even his fight with henry cooper, the first one, when he

was on the floor. i was listening to it on the radio with my father. there was just something about muhammad ali completely. >> yeah. you were transfixed on him when he was in the room. kellie maloney, thank you for sharing your memories and your voice on this. there are some great quotes by muhammad ali. some of them very profound. some of them very funny. remember float like a butter flu i, sting like a bee? muhammad all in his own words is what's coming up next. also, he was more than a boxer. muhammad ali was the global sports icon in a way few others have ever been able to match. his influence on sports coming up next.

he was the self-proclaimed greatest. then, you know what? the world just followed suit, believing the same thing. but muhammad ali passed away overnight at the age of 74. >> the tributes, the kind words have been pouring in from all over the world. his death comes after a lengthy battle with parkinson's disease. he was diagnosed with the disease in 1984, three years after he retired from a boxing career that began as a 12-year-old amateur in louisville, kentucky. >> former world champion boxer manny pacqaoi is reflecting on

the passing of muhammad ali this morning. >> writing, we lost a giant today. you will always be the greatest of all time. our hearts and prayers go out to the ali family. may god bless them. manny pacqaoi joins us now on the phone. thank you so much for calling in. how will you remember muhammad ali? >> muhammad ali is one of my inspirations. it is a big loss for boxing. muhammad ali's pleshment we will never forget and -- my

condolences to his family and of course we as boxers, athletes, we us a admire him and what he has done in boxing. >> mr. pacqaoi, i know that you are a champion, especially in the philippines, of trying to stop human trafficking. and that is one of your passions. did muhammad ali and his passions outside the ring influence you to get involved in things other than boxing? >> yes. that's right. other than boxing, muhammad ali inspired me to do good things, helping the people, helping those who need help. >> can you just give us some

sense of whether you had personal interaction and contact with muhammad ali? did you ever meet him? did you ever talk to him? or did you just, as you said, use him as an inspiration? >> i didn't meet him personally but i just speak to his daughter. but i always admire him. i alwa we all know that what he has done and accomplished in boxing. it is a big thing in boxing. >> what do you think what his greatest fight? >> oh, he had a lot of good fights. thriller in manila. he was here in the philippines

once so that's big part of his legacy. >> manny pacqaoi, we so appreciate you taking the time to call in. as we know, everybody in the boxing world is shocked by this. we did not expect to hear this news this morning. we knew he had been hospitalized but we didn't know it was as dire as it is. manny pacqaoi, again, thank you so much for your voice here. take good care. we continue to remember the remarkable life of muhammad ali as the city of his birth prepares to remember the man known as the greatest fighter ever. talk about his legacy coming up next.

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marie callender's with a crust made from scratch. because when it's cold outside, good food and good company... ...keep you warm inside. marie callender's. i'm christi paul. >> i'm joe johns in for victor blackwell. we are following the breaking news of muhammad ali's death who took the man by storm. in boxing he earned the nickname "the greatest" and earned the heavyweight championship three times. this is how i met him on capitol hill in 2002, pushing for more money for parkinson's disease. he championed many humanitarian causes after he retired raising

money for charity. in 2010 president obama wrote an op-ed on ali in "usa today." he said he admired ali's unique ability to summon extraordinary strength and courage in the face of adversity to navigate the storm and never lose his way. joining us no you, cnn political commentator marc lamont hill, he's also a professor at morehouse college. thanks again for coming in, marc. we said many times this morning that muhammad ali transcended sports. do you believe in your estimation, as many have said, that his legacy will be more about the way he lived his life than the things he did in sports? >> oh, absolutely. i mean we can't ignore the fact that muhammad ali is arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time. certainly the great s aest athl of all time when we look at the

totality of his career. but he does transcend sport. i was in the middle east two weeks ago and i see signs for muhammad ali, posters of muhammad ali. this is decades after he's retired. when i'm in tanzania, when i'm in south africa, when i'm in ghana, i see muhammad ali signs. people around the country say you're from america, muhammad ali. he is a global figure, a global voice and global hero. that had something to do with boxing for sure but it had a lot to do with his humanitarian efforts, it had a lot to do with his constant growth. muhammad ali said if have the same world view decades later that you had decades earlier, you have wasted 30 years of life. he became a more centered, peaceful human being and he brought the world along with him. that's what made him such an extraordinary person. his leadership on the global stage. his efforts on capitol hill to expand funding. not just for parkinson's but for other diseases and other forms of research. let's not forget, muhammad ali

also did things in private. he wasn't the person, despite his brash persona, he wasn't the person who always courted attention. muhammad ali would donate money to causes and not even tell you. in fact there were times when he would donate money on the condition that no one knew who did it. he was about people. he was about humanity. he was about loving his way through this world. >> marc, you mentioned the quote there that he says, the man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. his daughter, hana ali, tweeted our father was a humble mountain and now he's gone home to god. god bless you, daddy, you are the love of my life. obviously he was so much more than a boxer to them. but when you talk about traveling the world and seeing pictures of muhammad ali and people immediately finding out, oh, you're from america, muhammad ali, what do they say about him? what conversations do you have with people when you are all over the globe and this is the man's name who continues to come up time and time again? >> well, there's two things.

one is that he's larger than life athlete. right? people saw him around the globe as this person who kept slaying giants. when he fights sonny liston, there was no expectation that he would win. people laughed at the idea that he would beat sonny liston. then he beat him twice. after losing to joe frazier, he comes back out and wins and defeats him twice. he beats george foreman, perhaps the hardest punching person in boxing history. here is this beautiful, talented, gifted, funny person, who also destroys giants. people remember that he was a global hero for that. but beyond that, people admired the fact that he pushed back against empire. in 1967, muhammad ali could have simply gone into the draft. people say, oh, he's a coward. no, he wasn't a coward. he wasn't being asked to hold a gun and stand on the front lines. he was going to do boxing exhibitions just like joe lewis did decades earlier. it was a very easy job. he decided not to do it on principle. the fact that he surrendered millions of dollars, he

surrendered his popularity rating, basically surrendered his career for a long time an didn't get it back, the fact that he did that made him a hero to many. and in subsequent decades he has sustained his carriage, he has established his image. >> when you talk about the military and the controversy about going to serve in the vietnam war when he claimed conscientious objector status and was then put in jail for several years. basically when we say his principle, he came out and said, why should i go kill these innocent people. that is not who i am. and that was his argument for not wanting to go. >> that's exactly right. as a student of the honorable elijah muhammad, he was taught that this was not his war and that he had global solidarity with people of color again around the world. because of that he did didn't see them as his enemy. he said i see more injustice in the united states than i do from vietcong so i can't do that. as he grew in his beliefs, as he

grew in his principle, he said i can't engage in a imperialistic enterprise. i want to fix america, i with a'nt to make this place more fair, i want to make this place more just, i want to make this place more principled. he decided to do something far more dangerous than going to war. the testament to the fa kt that he was right, 29 years later he's standing in atlanta, georgia, lighting the pat kiernan tor olympic torch. >> just to put a finer point on it, a lot of this happened during the tumultuous 1960s at a time when we had figures like malcolm x, elijah muhammad, hl . martin luther king. the country was trying to navigate racial issues as well as the vietnam war. into that context you drop muhammad ali with these sort of

outspoken pronouncements about not just the war, but race in general. it was sort of empowering be with was it not, especially for african-americans in those times. >> absolutely. because many athletes, many artists, many people didn't say or do anything. muhammad ali could have very easily continued to fight but he was -- or not fight, rather. but he was part of a very small group of athletes, people like jim brown, people like kareem abdul-jabbar who were willing to speak out when it was dangerous. in 1967 martin luther king jr. had also fallen to the depths of unpopularity. he was no longer allowed to speak at major venues. martin luther king was not allowed on the morehouse college board of trustees. they say he was a bad influence on young people for going to jail too much. many people who we revere now at that moment in '67 were unpopular because they were no longer saying be non-violent to white racists. they were saying be non-violent abroad. let's not enter this ugly war. you had anti-war activists who were like white hippies.

anti-war activists who were black preachers. but then you had this athlete, somebody who's not from the political world, somebody who's not from this sector saying, hey, i want to be part of this struggle, too. i'm not going to lead the struggle but i'm going to be an extraordinary voice in it. muhammad awill i had had so muc. he put so much on the line which is basically a testament to his character. >> he didn't want to go over there and kill civilians. he didn't want to kill anybody that said, they've done nothing to me. the mothers and civilians that are caught up in the war. he didn't want to be part of that. marc lamont hill, thank you so much. we appreciate it. we're joined once again now by former british boxer and world champion chris eubank. thanks so much for coming in again, chris. when you listen to all of this and we just got the perspective from the united states and what it was like during the 1960s and the impact that muhammad ali really had on the things outside

sports. can you see that across the pond it was about the same way there? did he sort of transcend sports in england and in other countries where people thought of him as something more than a boxer? >> most certainly. he used his platform which was boxing to be the humanitarian that he was. and still is. because that spirit is still vibrant. mandela in his inaugural speech said, the world cannot be served by your playing small. there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so others around you will feel secure. when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously allow others to do the same. and in liberating ourselves from our own fears, our presence automatically lib rates others. so here's a man embodying the

spirit of a mandela, the great men. and was said before, in order to see further and be better we have to stand on the shoulders of giants which is what these men were. so hugely inspired and hugely -- a huge tribute should go around the world for this man. as i said earlier, about the funding i would fund and help fund this idea of have region statues in hyde park. maybe central park. the emirates. around the world to have the statue and to actually use as an example the spirit, the beacon that this man was. >> chris, when you talk about that he meant to you. you were a boxer and talked about how he influenced your inspiration in that regard. but outside of that, what do you feel you have done in your life because of muhammad ali outside boxing? >> i didn't want to get into

this, but as you asked the question, in 2003 i protested against the war in iraq. now that has done me personally a great deal of damage. however, it was the right thing to do. how was i inspired to do just that? muhammad ali. i had a truck. i drove a 1979 peterbilt and i parked it on downing street. it cost me so much in my life. it cost me so much anyway, the inspired by him to do the right thing. so in many respects during my career, even my vibrance, my gamesmanship, my being a maverick, this is all inspired by the giant that was muhammad ali which is bright and still alive as far as i'm concerned, because i am alive and i am still vibrant and i am still pushing and i'm still protecting

those who are disenfranchised and those who are weaker. and this spirit was born of the likes of mandela and muhammad ali. >> many people believing his spirit will absolutely continue to live on. chris eubank, thank you. >> my pleasure. we're zbrg going to take a e break right now. when we get back we'll talk to civil rights leader jesse jackson. (avo) after 50 years of designing cars for crash survival, subaru has developed our most revolutionary feature yet.

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if you're just waking up, you are now learning that the world has lost the greatest. after a three-decade-long fight with parkinson's disease, poemd ali h muhammad ali has died at the age of 74. >> this brought agreement about this man's life and legacy. but a lot of people forget he was one of the most polarizing stars in sports. he was both revered and reviled for a brash style in and out of the ring. but his powerful punches and quick footwork were always a sight to behold. >> he was outspoken on civil rights issues. reverend jesse jackson, thank you very much for being with us. i saw on your twitter page this morning you have a really profound quote there. when champions win they ride on the people's shoulders. when muhammad ali won, we rode on his shoulders and the sweet

picture of a child on top of muhammad ali's shoulders. let's talk about what he did outside the boxing arena. what was it -- >> you know, he was a champion inside the ring. he beat every's point that came his way. we're champions within ourself and they ride on the people's shoulders. heroes, the people that ride on their shoulders. his hero status was beyond the ring. he was a defiant man of dignity challenging the system by using the platform of boxing. let's not forget, 1960 is four yea years before civil rights passed. he defied those laws. segregation was polarizing. he challenged the condition under which we lived. >> reverend jackson, how are you

different? how are you a different man because of muhammad ali? >> well, in some sense because i knew him. and because we were part of the same circle. 1960, he was in the olympics. i remember so well april 4th, 1967. ali was in a hotel room in new york with jim brown and dr. king and andrew young and i talking about his position on the war and how he was willing to sacrifice all. that's what made an even bigger hero because the u.s. sought to discredit him by dethroning him.

the idea of "i'm the best quarterba," basketball players gesturing, football players dancing in the end zone, all of that is post-ali. his hero was jack johnson. it was at a time he was at his height. it was a big deal psychologically and yet he had married a white woman, rode down in his convertible limosine. >> so one thing that fascinates

me about muhammed ali as well as a number of other figures from the 1960s including yourself is the journey. when he first started out and people started hearing his name, he was a controversial figure even in african american communities. people divided on whether they liked him or they didn't like him and his style, but can you talk a little bit about that journey from controversial figure to world icon that you sort of experienced yourself? >> well, runaway slaves upset the slaves like they upset the masters. he was the runaway. he challenged that system. most people define their actions by fear, not by courage. most people went to the back of the bus because they didn't fight for the right to vote because they adjusted. they didn't fight discrimination, they didn't like

it, but they adjusted. and i would like to think that his sacrifice took him to another level in theceps that he is a man of sacrifice, his wealth, i remember him have been to borrow money to survive. he had this fame, and then in the end, those who are against that war finally embraced him. those who fought with their own war embraced him so he goes from being reviled to given the light the torch in atlanta, georgia. he went from being reviled to being revered. >> thanks so much for calling in and we will talk to you again, i'm sure. >> thank you. >> thank you so much. and we'll be right back. stay close. running a small business is definitely difficult. and we've been traveling a lot.

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your skin will look beautiful when you wear it and even after you take it off. neutrogena® cosmetics see what's possible. muhammed ali was much more than a boxer. he was a global icon. >> and coy is here to talk more about that. >> in the 60s ali in his prime and for a black man in those times to declare i'm the greatest, i'm pretty, i'm a bad man, this is when african americans are oppressed. he converted from islam, changed

his name to muhammed ali, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. he adhered to his believes, stood up for social change and today when you think about that how sport can affect society, you think of maybe lebron jams when he wore the i can't breathe t-shirt to take a stand for eric garner but it pales in comparison. he was one of the greatest influences the world has ever known. he was a pillar of strength for people around the world especially for african americans here in the u.s. when they really needed one. incredible stuff, guys. >> thank you. >> and it's a conscious choice in a lot of ways for an athlete to decide to be political, to be controversial or just play the game. >> the next hour of "new day" starts in just a moment after this break. just stay close.

too much speed. too fast. >> i must be the greatest. >> i find out when you treat people nice and be humble and be regular, people love you better, god blesses you. >> it was something like caviar, you had to acquire a taste for him. >> ali with a relentless left hook and turned the balance of the fight his way. >> against all odds, ali made one of the greatest comebacks in history. >> when i think of my dad i don't think about him as the fighter and all of his accomplishmentes in the ring, i

think more of who he is as a man outside of the ring. >> in so many ways in sports, in our culture and in our nation's history, muhammed ali was just a standout figure who will be remembered forever. >> and on this morning we are remembering muhammed ali. thank you for taking the time to be with us. i'm christie paul. >> and i'm joe johns. >> and boxing legend muhammed ali has died overnight. he earned the nickname the greatest, of course. he was 74 years old. >> he became famous as a young man not just for his boxing prowess, but also for his rhyming catch phrases like fit like a butterfly, sting like a bee. he also spoke out for what he believed in and after he retired and was diagnosed with parken son's disease he continued to speak out for humanitarian's

causes. ali was once crowned sportsman of the century by sports illustrated. he was truly a sportsman paying the way for some of today's most iconic boxers. one of those famed fighters is evander holyfield who idolized ali as a child, was able to match him and later became the only five-time heavy weight champ of the world. mr. holyfield, you'd lys idolizs man and some would say you came somewhat of his equal. can you talk about the impact he had on you? >> he had a very big impact, you know, as a kid, you know, i came from a family and on black

history week ali's name came up, his name and jackie robinson and one day when i went to the boy's clubs the host toboxing coach ti could be like muhammed ali and i told him i'll have to ask my mom. and i asked my mom and she said you've got to follow and at that time my career started. >> and was she ever afraid for you and your safety as you stepped into that ring and tried to be like muhammed ali? in other times and in other places parents feared for their kid to step into a boxing ring, but he somehow made this violent sport fashionable. >> well, yes, you know, my mother said she -- she thought i would quit eventually, you know, and she -- she didn't actually think that i would do it as long

as i did. but you know, i came from a, you know, a praying family and realized that you pray and you give your very best. >> talk to us a little bit about the person muhammed ali was outside the ring. >> well, actually it was so amazing because i made the olympic team just like muhammed ali and i didn't want to go about a -- i had a bronze medal and that's when i met muhammed ali and he, you know, so funny talking and you know -- you know, he -- he stood up to people and i guess one of the biggest things was, i wanted to carry the olympic torch. i got the opportunity to carry it, but i didn't get a chance to light it and i was wondering who could be bigger and better than

me? and it was ali. you know, i was so happy because the fact of the matter, i didn't know it was him. but in atlanta i thought i was the biggest person, but then what i found out, it was ali. then i found out somebody else that the human tear work thtary big and i heard how he was the most popular athlete that ever went to the olympics, all the great work that he did for people, and you know, it was amazing. and -- and that's when i realized that, you know what? it's more to ali than boxing. >> and realizing that, mr. holyfield, how has muhammed ali shaped you outside the ring, the person you are, the man you are? >> well, you know, i think when

it come down to the work that you know, when you -- when you look at ali, he stood up and to be the first person to stand up and face, you know, face the world, you know, he -- he was all around the world about what he believed. and -- and it's a lot different than -- than you -- somebody that already did it and you come behind him. ali was the first person to do that and being the skin color that he was and to stand up, it's amazing to -- to be the one that everybody looking at and everybody not happy. but you see a man of your word and you stick to it and now become the person that -- that, wow, people -- people didn't realize he could have been the

one of the most hated person as well as well as the most likable person. the person most hated became the most likable person, you know, because people had to educate their position to what they're going to do and you couldn't flop on it. and he said what he said and he become who he is because he -- he stood strong. >> evander holyfield, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us and our condolences to you because we know how inspirational he was to you and you're one of the people in this world that had the pruf ledge of knowing him. and to speak to that, one of my favorite quotes is the man who views the world at 50 the same as he does at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. it kind of explains how he grew and evolved outside the boxing

world. >> and something about muhammed ali is the simple clarity in his words that made them so powerful at a time as evander holyfield said, he could have lost everything. >> he could have. >> and in some way he did during the vietnam war controversy. in some way he did lose everything. >> and after being diagnosed with park kinson's of course, and wolf blitzer takes a look at that part of muhammed ali. >> this is the legend of muhammed ali, the greatest fighter there ever will be. >> millions of fans around the world agree. those phrases became al-ali's motto. his wit and charisma outside the ring would make him one of the world's best known personalities. >> you look at me --

>> but his persono bega began t emerge. he was born during an ugly era of racial segregation in america. at 12 years old, ali's world would change forever when a local police officer introduced him to boxing. it became an outlet for his rage. >> cassius clay challenges jerry joyce. >> it also allowed him to develop his remarkable talent. six years later he would bring home a gold medal from the summer olympic games in rome. he turned pro at the age of just 18 and at 22 he stunned the boxing world, defeating a fighter the experts thought was invincible, sonny liston. ali had arrived and liston would

never be the same. to prove the point, ali put him away in a rematch the following year. the '60s were glory days for ali, but it would become a controversial period in his life. he renounced his given name and joined the black separatist nation of islam. ali's heavyweight title was gone, revoked after he claimed conscientious objector status and refused to serve in the vietnam war. he also gave up millions of dollars in endorsements and faced five years in prison all in defiance of a war he called despicable and unjust. >> my intention is to box to win a clean fight, but in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and continue killing innocent people. >> reporter: ali began a three

and a half year exile from champion fights. >> everybody that watches and trains, there's no contest. better not fight like that with ali. >> reporter: but the world would soon learn that even superman has his off days. ali was barely back in the ring when his undefeated professional record came to an end. he lost to joe fraser in a 1971 match dubbed the fight of the century. it was the first of three fights with smoking joe. >> joe's going to come out smoking but i ain't going to be joking. i'll be pecking and poking, pouring water on his mokin. this time i'm going to retire joe frazier. >> reporter: and he did. the fight ended after frazier's trainer stopped the fight following the 14th round giving ali a technical knockout. ali was on a role again. but his greatest athletic

comeback -- >> only last week i murdered a rock. stone, hospitalize a brick. i'm so mean i make medicine sick. >> reporter: he knocked out the heavily favored young champion george foreman. it was called the rumble in the jungle. his last night in 1981 would mark the beginning of another battle that ali described as his toughest. the diagnosis that he was afflicted with parkinson's disease. ali was forced to retire. his lifetime record, 56 victories just 5 defeats. but he never retreated from living a very public life. in 1996, ali provided one of the most poignant moments in sports history. with 3 billion people watching he lit the olympic flame at the summer games in atlanta. his hands trembling, but never

wavering. as his condition grew progressively worse ali struggled each day to whisper a word. his hands and legs shook and his voice quivered. >> i am the greatest. >> reporter: yet his spirit was never chicken and he never slowed down from serving as an ambassador for peace and a mediator in world conflicts. in 2005 ali was presented with a presidential medal of freedom award, the nation's highest civilian honor. >> when you say the greatest of all time is in the room, everyone know who is you mean. and tributes for the champ continue. >> how do you feel about getting the honor tonight? >> reporter: ali was one of the most gifted and unique personalities in sports history.

the world may never see the likes of him again. in the final chapter, few would argue that ali needed the crowds as much as they needed him. not for mere validation, but because each saw in the other the best in themselves. >> ali's got a left, ali's got a right. if he hits you once you'll sleep for the night. and if you lie on the floor, hope and pray that you never meet me again. >> most famous man in the world he was once called. up next, a life long family friend of muhammed ali speaks to cnn about the death of the legend. oh, look... ...another anti-wrinkle cream in no hurry to make anything happen. neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair works... ...in one week. with the... fastest retinol formula.

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he said i called myself the greatest even before i believed it, but he did believe it -- or before he was it. he made the world believe it and the world has lost the greatest this morning. muhammad ali, 74 years old, has died. >> this is a man known for his quick and clear words, his quick feet, his even faster punches, remembered for his contribution for civil rights and his early vocal objection to the vietnam war which is one that cost him several years as a boxer. >> ali spent his final moments at a hospital in scottsdale, arizona. he was surrounded by his close family and friends. certainly people that we are thinking of this morning. dan simon is there live and the thing about this, dan, is a lot of people when they heard that he was in the hospital on thursday, they thought okay, hopefully this is just another -- another bout, but he will hopefully get out of the hospital -- we'll get him back

here, but it was a surprise to so many people because he had been hospitalized in 2014 and again in 2015 and he was released. and nobody expected this -- nobody expected us to be waking up to this this morning. >> especially considering what we knew about the ailment that put him in the hospital this time. respiratory ailment i think back in 2014, he was in for pneumonia, so the assumption was yeah, he'll be out of the hospital in a couple days. his spokesman i believe even said as much. >> yes, he did. >> when we went to bed last night we were under the impression that he was going to make it through and this would be just a replay of the past. but it didn't turn out to be that way. >> right. no doubt about it. we know his spokesman had described it as a respiratory issue, but we want to be clear, we have not gotten word of what caused his actual death if it was a respiratory issue, if how the parkinson's complicated

things. we don't know how he died as of yet and for this i'm sure everyone is grateful he was surrounded by the people that he loved. grateful for him and the family as well. he had nine children, married four times and of course layla ali who followed in his footsteps and i always wondered how he felt as a father about that because that's your little girl. because you think you hit my little girl i'm going to hit you. he was one of her biggest fans, no doubt about it. we see him there with her. so what commonality for the two of them to share, but just hoping that she was by his side. >> and among the many things he was known for, he was called the louisville lip. intimidating opponents with words well before he even threw the first punch, telling rival sonny liston in the ring that he could float like a butterfly,

sting like a bee. that was first uttered in 1964 when he was just 22 years old. it later became his motto. >> there was no rest for any man who dared take on muhammad ali in the ring. the world champion warned anyone who challenged him and i want to get this right. if you even dream of beating me you better wake up and apologize. >> all right. here's a -- he turned trash talk into art, and it doesn't seem like a big deal now, because so many people do it, but he sort of, you know, put a patent on it. his verbal sparring getting almost as much as the knockout punches in the ring. he once said, i'm so mean, i make medicine sick. i can't say that with the right emphasis. right before the rumble in the jungle, that was against george foreman in 1974. >> no doubt about it. and he said -- one time he said, i'm so fast last night i turned the lights out in my hotel room and was in the bed before the

room was dark. >> this is outside the muhammad ali center in louisville, kentucky. this just gives you an idea of what appears to be a makeshift memorial that is just getting started with some cards, some signs, some tributes and of course some letters. you can imagine that is very much likely to grow over the next several days and with people just waking up now discovering that muhammad ali at 74 is gone. >> and we know the funeral services will be held in louisville kentucky in about an hour and a half i believe we are expected to see some sort of a news briefing from louisville as well. we'll be taking you to that, but the world, you know, looks at this and thinks, we knew this fighter. cnn's pamela brown knew him on a completely different level and this is so -- this is so profound, because as a little girl, that is pamela brown right there you see at a table with

muhammad ali as a little girl. you think i don't know the impact of this man, but of course knowing it now -- >> an incredible picture. also coming up after the break we'll talk to larry holmes a little bit about his remembrances of muhammad ali as we work our way through this morning. sfx: climbing sounds duracell quantum lasts longer so kevin jorgeson can power through the night. sfx: duracell slamtones this... i try hard to get a great shape. i can do easily. benefiber® healthy shape helps curb cravings. it's a clear, taste-free daily supplement... ...that's clinically proven to help keep me fuller longer. benefiber® healthy shape. this, i can do. find us in the fiber aisle. motrin helps you be an... "i can totally do this in one trip" kind of woman. when pain tries to stop you, motrin works fast to stop pain. make it happen with motrin® liquid gels.

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breaking news this morning that muhammad ali has died. the 74-year-old former boxing heavy weight champ was admitted

to a phoenix hospital two days ago with a respiratory problem. he had been battling parkinson's disease since shortly retiring from boxing in the early 1980s. >> during the peak of his career he was known for his flamboyant boxing style. he was just as colorful outside the ring. born cassius clay, he shocked the world when he converted to islam and changed his name to muhammad ali. on the phone with us now to talk about his career, former world heavy weight champion larry holmes. thank you for being with us. help us understand the impact that muhammad ali had on you not just in the ring but outside of it. >> his personality, you know, he was -- you know, all the years that i've been around him and working with him for four years, i think i seen him get mad one time and that was because

somebody was messing with him and telling him he can't fight or something like that, and he made a game out of it. and he's -- he was one hell of a guy. what can i say? >> you said you were his sparring partner for four years. >> yeah. >> and -- and certainly that's fascinating, the idea that just once he got angry, but can you give us a little bit more sense of the man behind the scenes? we all saw the showman, but we also know that the person you met and knew might have been very different. >> well, you know. >> reporter: when i seen him come along and he'd come over and talk to you. if he was trying to do his magic tricks he would do his magic tricks and sometimes i thought he was crazy because he would be

talking to himself like, i'm the greatest, nobody can whoop me and he'd be talking to himself, you know, and he just come out of the clear blue skies and start talking. and i used to think he was crazy, but, you know, knowing ali he was not crazy. he had a lot of sense. when he was a little guy, he always treated me good. i'll tell you, when i first went to ali i went up there with no equipment because i had no equipment. he gave me my boxing shoes, he gave me boxing gloves, boxing trunks, hand wraps, he said now you got your equipment. and that's how we became friends. and then we went down to redding, pennsylvania and we put on a boxing exhibition. he gave me a black eye, and everybody was trying to get ice and ali said put ice on it, put ice on it. and i said no, i'm going to show this one off. nobody believed that i was working with muhammad ali. >> help us understand that --

that atmosphere. i mean, you're in the ring with him one minute and you are walking around highlighting the -- the big shiner you have from him. how do you -- how do you manage that competitiveness in the ring and the friendship outside of it? >> well, you know, i -- i tell you what. ali was a good guy. he just -- he get on his bus, and come to the l.a. to go to the schools to talk to the kids in the schools. i mean, he was phenomenal when it came down to doing things for people. and i said to him one day, why you do that? he said, somebody got to do it to make these kids feel good and stuff like that and he said, that's what i'm doing. and i just -- i was blown out about a lot of things that he did because he used to talk to himself too, like, i'm the

greatest and nobody can whoop me, and look around and nobody there but me. he's talking to himself. >> here's something also that we have to ask because it's part of your legacy. you are one of only five, if i'm correct, boxers to actually defeat muhammad ali in a real match. what was that like especially given the fact that you seem to like him a lot? >> yeah, believe me, it was hard. that was one of the hardest fights that i ever had to fight, fighting against a guy that i loved and i knew i could beat him because i work with him, you know, for four years as a sparring partner, but then i understood the reason why he fought me, you know, for the money. he was getting $10 million and then i was -- i'm 66 and i come out of retirement for $10 million so you know, i can understand that -- you know, he wanted to fight and he wanted to

win. and he tried to goat me into winning. you're just my sparring partner, you can't fight. watch this, watch this. you know, but that was a sad day. and even after i beat him i went to his dressing room and i said to him, man, you know i love you. he said, well why you whoop me like that then? he was always -- he was -- always had some comment, you know what i'm saying? so that's why i feel like i feel. >> well, larry holmes, thank you for sharing your memories with him and some of those moments that we never would have known about behind the scenes. >> i tell you what, we lost a great fighter, a great man, a great human being and you know, god has blessed him, he blessed me to have the opportunity to be with somebody as great as he was. i appreciate it. >> obviously taking a lot of inspiration from him that i'm sure will stay with you forever. thank you. we appreciate you taking the

time to talk with us this morning. >> thank you. all right. >> what an interesting guy, larry holmes is. >> there was a lot of comedy to -- to muhammad ali that we're learning this morning that i think maybe a lot of people didn't get right away. >> you get. coming up next, a life long friend of muhammad ali speaks to cnn about the death of the legend. it's not a quick fix. it's my decision to make beauty last. roc® retinal started visibly reducing my fine lines and wrinkles in one week. and the longer i use it, the better it works. retinal correxion® from roc® methods, not miracles.™

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i came down today just to pay my respects to a great american and i'm really proud to be a louisvilleian and i'm proud

he was here and when i woke up to the news in the middle of the night i couldn't stop crying so i figured i'd come down and pay my respects. >> welcome back to our viewers here and around the world. if you're just waking up, we are reporting the news of the death of the greatest muhammad ali. >> 74 years old, was in a hospital in scottsdale since thursday, and this came as a great surprise to people. so many people believed that he was in there just for, as his spokesman had said, a respiratory issue. the family statement said the ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support and asks for privacy at this time. but what you're looking at here is the growing memorial there in louisville, kentucky outside the muhammad ali center. and you just heard from somebody who had taken the time this morning to go down and just pay reverence as she stood in front of the center. a lot of people were sure going

to be there and we do no funeral services will be in louisville, kentucky, but that's all we know at this point regarding the memorial for him. >> dan simon is live outside the hospital in scottsdale, arizona, where ali died surrounded by his family. dan, so ali has lived around that area for some time and he's been in and out of the hospital. there are a lot of people who are thinking just last night that he was going to make it through, but it turns out, sadly, it did not. >> reporter: yeah, you know, i want to bring in john ramsey because he knows the situation better than anybody. he was very close friends with muhammad ali and his wife, john is a personality television radio personality in louisville, kentucky. john, you got the call on thursday and she said that he wasn't doing so well?

>> well, you know, i think at the time when he initially was admitted to the hospital, you know, we thought it was just a minor medical issue. she's so good at taking care of him i did not think a lot of it that muhammad gets off the mat again and again. the doctor probably knows this one hit him hard and things escalated from there. >> so it's the second floor of the hospital. you're there with family. explain the situation. what's it like up there? >> you know, it really was all about the family. my role was very minor. i was there for support, you know, the kids were all together and it was their time with their father, so they were in the room, there was a small little lounge area that i was with with a few other close friends and the kids would come in and out and visit with their father as they should and a lot of tears, hugs, laughter, a lot of memories and you know, fortunately the kids, the good

thing is they've got the spirituality of their father so they took comfort there. >> and you were here, you told me, two months ago visiting mohammed. what was that like? >> about a month and a half ago, you know, stayed with muhammad and watched old fights. spent a lot of good quality guy time with muhammad and he was feeling good, great spirits, very lucid and you know, the muhammad ali you want to see. >> reporter: and despite his parkinson's you told me he was razor sharp? >> he is razor sharp. he always knew what was going on. he was sharp. as i said, i attribute a lot of that to the great medical care that his wife gave and if reincarnation is true, i'd like to come back as muhammad ali. he was treated as muhammad ali should be. >> reporter: and you traveled the world with him. you went to a lot of different countries. what was it like to be around him? >> you know, he is truly a world champion and you saw that.

he is beloved all around the world. i've been to australia with him, england, ireland, canada, multiple cities around the country and you see the love that's universal. it transcends religion, it transcends countries. muhammad is just really so beloved and deservedly so. >> reporter: and we know a lot about him because he was such a publ public figure, but what's something that maybe most people don't know about him? >> i'd justsa th say that some e say is he still the muhammad of old? is he still charming and quit witted? yes, yes, and yes. still the coolest cat many the room. not only was he the greatest of all time but he was the best at being compassionate, the greatest athlete of our era and as far as being cool, he had the bar way up here. >> thanks very much. appreciate you stopping by and our condolences. >> appreciate it. >> reporter: so there you go. i mean, john telling us that

this was not expected, that he was basically doing okay, that they thought that, you know, this would be a brief hospital stay, that he was in fair condition and then -- and then he would be on his way. of course, he had been in the hospital several times over the past few years and you know, seemed to be doing just fine and this was quite unexpected and quite a shock to people who knew him best. >> dan, thank you so much. dan simon live for us there. it's so good to hear he was surrounded by his children and his wife and hear about how meticulous she was in her care of him. certainly thoughts and prayers going to that family today as they try to reconcile what's going on. i mean, you knew he wasn't well because of the parkinson's but as he said, they did not expect this. >> and that's been the experience too. i met him with his wife years ago and even then when he was up and moving and much more communicative, able to speak with much more ease, even though it was still a little difficult

then, she worked with him all the time, great care, and it was very clear that his personality continued to come through again and again and again. personally, my remembrance of him was being amazed that i was in the presence of muhammad ali. he was on capitol hill trying to push for more government money for parkinson's, and i walked up and talked to him and his wife, and he was the one who asked me if i wanted a picture with him. >> isn't that something? >> right. >> and i thought, well, yes, but i would have never asked. >> that's so sweet of him because you know there are probably a lot of people who are standoffish and they don't want to say it but for him to offer it because he knows, i know you want to do this even though you're not asking so i want to make it easy for you. >> exactly. >> a little bit later we are going to go live to louisville, kentucky. that's his hometown. the mayor is planning something special this morning.

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he called himself the greatest before the world agreed, but believe me, as we all know, the world did indeed agree eventually. muhammad ali we're so sad to

tell you, passed away overnight. he was 74 years old. >> and the tributes have been pouring in from all corners of the world. his death comes after a lengthy battle with parkinson's disease. he was diagnosed in 1984, three years after he retired from a boxing career that began when he was just 12 years old. >> anyone who met him pretty much never forgot him. these are the stories we are hearing from people today. pamela brown, cnn correspondent, she met ali when she was a young girl. and i want you to take us to those moments that you were with him, you know, what was going on here in this picture and then that moment when you realized who he was to the rest of the world? >> reporter: well, he was -- he was good friends with my dad. we lived in kentucky and so my parents would tell me, you know, we have a very special guest visiting the house and i would hear words like icon and legend,

but when i was a little girl i didn't really fully understand how big of a deal he was. to me though, he was my real life superhero because as you see here in that picture, we -- when he would come to the house we would sit around the kitchen table right here and he would show me magic tricks. and i would show him mine. i was really into it at the time and thinking they were so good. of course they were not very impressive compared to his and he would show me his magic tricks and i thought he was a superhero regardless of everything else and we'd go to -- we'd go to restaurants and he would show off for the crowd and he'd do this little trick where he would get on his toes and make it look like he was floating and as a kid i thought he really was floating and it wasn't until he was our guest at the kentucky derby one year where i really understood that this is one of the greatest men who's ever lived. we were walking to the paddock to see the horses and we were

walking through the grand stand and he grabbed my hand and the crowd stood up, the entire grand stand stood up and was chanting ali, ali and he just had this big smile on his face and you could tell he loved it. he thrived in that with all the attention and energy coming from the crowd and he would stop and he would do his one-two punch and just, you know, these people, it was just awe inspiring for them to be in his presence and certainly for me as a girl, i'll never forget it. he's left an indelible mark and he never let parkinson's hold him back. he led a full and rich life to the end. >> that's just incredible. thank you so much for that remembrance, and we'll take a break and we'll be right back.

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if you're just joining us we have breaking news this morning that muhammad ali has died after a long battle with parkinson's disease. he passed overnight at a phoenix hospital where he was admitted thursday with a respiratory problem. he leaves behind nine children, his wife, he was 74. >> and we should point out that we do not know the reason -- the

cause of death yet. that has not been -- that has not been established but we do have some pictures here that were iconic of this -- this giant in the boxing world and in the world in general. this just saying the greatest. this was the cover of sports illustrated back in 2006. obviously not a picture from 2006, but something honoring him. >> he appeared on the cover of sports illustrated so many times that you know -- i mean, that's sort of a testament right there to the power of the face of muhammad ali. >> well, sports illustrated called him -- what did they say? the greatest athlete of the 20th century. >> and this is the -- you just saw that cover of joe frazier, that was a huge fight in the career of muhammad ali's life, and the epic battle there. >> the thriller in manila. >> thank you so much for being with us. smerconish starts now. everything you're pretty good at now,

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the great zest gone. muhammad ali, boxing legend, civil rights activist died at the age of 74 last night. for decades ali was perhaps the most famous man on the plant. his journey also amazing. finally it's the end of primary season. virgin islands today, puerto rico tomorrow. then the big states this tuesday