A 1974 photo of Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight champion whose fast fists and irrepressible personality transcended sports and captivated the world. Photo / AP
US President Barack Obama has offered a heartfelt tribute to Muhammad Ali as the outpouring of emotion continues following the boxing legend's death.
Ali died on Saturday aged 74 after losing his battle with a respiratory illness. He was admitted to hospital on Thursday with breathing difficulties and was later
placed on a life-support machine.
Obama released a heartfelt statement paying his respects to Ali late on Saturday night, saying both he and first lady Michelle Obama were mourning the legend's passing.
"Muhammad Ali was The Greatest. Period. If you just asked him, he'd tell you. He'd tell you he was the double greatest; that he'd 'handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder into jail'," Obama said.
"But what made The Champ the greatest - what truly separated him from everyone else - is that everyone else would tell you pretty much the same thing," the statement said.
