As Muhammad Ali celebrates his 70th birthday today, he ares some of the Louisville Lip’s more memorable quotes:
"Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn't choose it and I don't want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name - it means beloved of God, and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me." - announcing his conversion to the Muslim faith after first Liston fight
"Get up sucker and fight. Get up and fight." - during second Liston fight, 1965
"What's my name, fool? What's my name?" - during Ernie Terrell fight, 1967 - Terrell had refused to recognise his name change
“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” -
on refusing induction into the US armed services in 1967 during the Vietnam war
“I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark.” -
before George Foreman fight, 1974
“Float like a butterfly sting like a bee - his hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.” -
before Foreman fight, 1974
“I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; Handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; Only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.” -
before Foreman fight, 1974
“That all you got, George? That all you got?” -
during Foreman fight, 1974
“It will be a killer and a chiller and a thriller when I get the gorilla in Manila.” -
before third Joe Frazier fight, 1975