RIP Muhammad Ali: Friends, rivals, athletes pay tribute to boxing legend

Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a 20th Century icon whose fame transcended sport during a remarkable career that spanned three decades, passed away on Friday at the age of 74.The beloved sports hero, who had been battling Parkinson's disease for decades, passed away in a hospital in Pheonix where he had been admitted earlier this week suffering from respiratory problems. Ali had been living in the Phoenix area with his fourth wife, Lonnie, whom he married in 1986. He was survived by nine children, seven daughters and two sons.The boxing legend's loss was felt all over the world as people from all walks of life condoled his death. From fellow athletes to bitter rivals, everyone praised Ali's enduring legacy.Here are some of the most poignant reactions to Muhammad Ali's death."We lost a giant today. Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali's talents but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Ali family."- Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest boxers of his generation, led Philippine tributes to Muhammad Ali"At a time when blacks who spoke up about injustice were labeled uppity and often arrested, Muhammad willingly sacrificed the best years of his career to stand tall and fight for what he believed was right," said Abdul-Jabbar. "In doing so, he made all Americans, black and white, stand taller. I may be 7-feet-2 but I never felt taller than when standing in his shadow."- Retired NBA all-time scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised Ali's courage in fighting discrimination"We lost a legend, a hero and a great man. He's one of the guys who paved the way for me to be where I'm at. Words can't explain what Muhammad Ali did for the sport."- Floyd Mayweather, who retired last year as an unbeaten welterweight champion- George Foreman, Ali's most famous knockout victim from the Rumble in the Jungle- Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson"It's a great loss. Someone asked me if I wanted to break his record (as a three-time champion) and I said no because that means I have to lose. But you find out you have to be stronger to get up from a loss to go on. And that's what Ali proved."- Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield said he was inspired by Ali"His fight outside the ring would cost him his title and his public standing. It would earn him enemies on the left and the right, make him reviled, and nearly send him to jail. But Ali stood his ground. And his victory helped us get used to the America we recognize today.- US President Barack Obama paying his tribute to the late boxing legend."He was tremendous, not just a boxer, a great human being, an icon. Muhammad Ali's spirit, like Martin Luther King Jr, will live on. That's why Muhammad Ali will never die."- Don King, who promoted the Rumble in the Jungle"Muhammad Ali was my hero. I'm so happy that I got to meet the guy. He was one of the only fighters who predicted what round he was going to win and then knock his opponent out in that round. That's something you hardly ever see. He used to beat opponents with his mouth before he ever got into the boxing ring. He would win the fight before the fight even happened. What he believed in, he did."- British boxer Amir Khan has paid tribute to Ali in a video message from his family's native Rawalpindi in Pakistan"Hillary and I are saddened by the passing of Muhammad Ali. From the day he claimed the Olympic gold medal in 1960, boxing fans across the world knew they were seeing a blend of beauty and grace, speed and strength that may never be matched again. We watched him grow from the brash self-confidence of youth and success into a manhood full of religious and political convictions that led him to make tough choices and live with the consequences. Along the way we saw him courageous in the ring, inspiring to the young, compassionate to those in need, and strong and good-humored in bearing the burden of his own health challenges. I was honored to award him the Presidential Citizens Medal at the White House, to watch him light the Olympic flame, and to forge a friendship with a man who, through triumph and trials, became even greater than his legend. Our hearts go out to Lonnie, his children, and his entire family."- Bill Clinton, former US President"Muhammad Ali is a legend and one of the world's most celebrated athletes, the fighter who ushered in the golden era of boxing and put the sport on the map. He paved the way for professional fighters, including myself, elevating boxing to become a sport watched in millions of households around the world"- Boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who won titles at six different weight classes"Passing the Olympic torch to Muhammad to light the cauldron at the Atlanta Games in 1996 was the defining moment of my career, and a memory I will treasure forever, as much as any of the medals I won. As Olympians, our role is to inspire others to achieve their dreams, and no person has ever lived that role more than Muhammad Ali."- Swimmer Janet Evans who was with Ali during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Opening Ceremony [caption id="attachment_2817104" align="alignleft" width="825"] Muhammad Ali at the Atlanta Olympics Opening ceremony. Screengrab[/caption]"We are proud to call Ali not only a member of Team USA, but an Olympic champion. With unparalleled grit and determination, he left a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of Americans for years to come."- Scott Blackmun, CEO of the US Olympic Committee"Muhammad Ali was a legend and a legend never dies. All that he did for the sport will never be forgotten. In fact his work even outside the ring has immortalised him. He did so much for so many."- Indian pro boxer and Olympic medalist Vijender SinghIt's a huge, huge loss for boxing. I personally feel a sense of loss because he had inspired me and so many others like me. He will always be remembered for being a powerful boxer and an equally powerful personality. It's a very sad day for the sport."- MC Mary Kom, a five-time world boxing champion and Olympic medalist"It really saddens me that a huge legend is no more between us. But greats never die, they live on for all that they have done in their lifetime. He will always be alive in the hearts of people because he touched so many lives with all that he did. He may not be there in person anymore but his spirit will live on because every time someone would say boxing, the first name to come to mind would be Ali."- Shiva Thapa, the lone Indian boxer to have qualified for the Rio Olympics thus farWith inputs from agencies