A brilliance that lit up the world

In modern culture, few figures have been as popular and for as long as the late boxer

He was sentenced to five years in prison but never served the term

Boxing champion was one of the most charismatic sports figures of the 20th century

‘Hey Floyd — I seen you! Someday I’m gonna whup you! Don’t you forget, I am the greatest!’

‘Not a single respected critic spoke up for him. He was 40-1 with some bookmakers and nearly every expert feared for his safety against the monster that was Foreman’

Muhammad Ali shook up the boxing world one night 50 years ago – and reduced me to awestruck silence during a chance meeting in New Jersey