The enormity of Muhammad Ali’s death reverberated Saturday in the impact felt by the millions he touched, especially those in the fight game.
Manny Pacquiao said his decision to pursue a life in public service as a senator in the Philippines after winning a record eight division belts was influenced by Ali’s embrace of mankind.
Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. said “words can’t explain†what Ali did for boxing, acknowledging the three-time heavyweight champion “was one of the guys who paved the way for me.â€
And Ultimate Fighting Championship Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta credited Ali for spawning Fertitta’s love of combat sports, and pointed to the “Louisville Lip’s†showmanship as an example of how the UFC has banked on charismatic fighters to become the billion-dollar enterprise it is now.
Ali died in what a family spokesman described as a “peaceful passing†in a Phoenix hospital Friday night from what was said Saturday to be septic shock after entering the facility for respiratory problems.
Veteran promoter Bob Arum, who handled 26 of Ali’s bouts, including the famed “Thrilla in Manila†trilogy-capping victory over Joe Frazier, recalled the charismatic and formerly polarizing figure as “the most transforming figure that I have encountered — for America and the world.â€
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 30 years ago, moving many to tears with his arm-shaking lighting of the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, and family spokesman Bob Gunnell told reporters, “We don’t have an official cause of death yet, but it has to be from complications of Parkinson’s.â€
Fertitta said he pushed to institute protections for his 500-plus fighters partially as a result of Ali’s brain trauma.
He routinely gives to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, extending a partnership to study the brains of UFC fighters at the facility with a $1-million donation in February.
“Safety is the most important thing,†Fertitta said. “We want our fighters to know from a health and safety standpoint exactly where they stand. That’s why we participate in this program and encourage everyone to go to the Cleveland Clinic and get annual checkups – MRIs, tests from the latest technology they have to study what’s going on with the fighter’s brains. We think it’s a very important element not only in this sport, but all contact sports.â€
While Ali’s health battle was extended and powerful, silencing a brash, entertaining voice, it was his dynamic personality, wit and fighting that will be most remembered.
Fertitta said that, with Ali in mind, he and UFC President Dana White made a conscious effort to allow their top fighters , including Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones, to expand on their personalities, helping the organization rise from debt 15 years ago to become a $1.65-billion operation, according to Forbes.
Ali “definitely, clearly created the road map for our promotion,†Fertitta said.
Boxing benefited from Muhammad Ali’s talents, but not nearly as much as mankind benefited from his humanity.
— Manny Pacquiao
Veteran boxing publicist Bill Caplan saw Ali’s well-plotted self-publicity at play while working on two of his fights, including the momentous 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle†against then-unbeaten George Foreman.
“He was a great athlete, but the greatest publicity man I’ve ever known. He would do anything you asked [promotion-wise] and would think of a lot of it himself,†Caplan said, recalling a scene months before a Foreman fight against Ken Norton, when Foreman and Ali crossed paths and met casually inside an empty Hilton Hotel boardroom in Caracas, Venezuela.
“I was like a fly on the wall for that,†Caplan said. “Ali was doing color [commentary] on ABC with Howard Cosell. Ali couldn’t be any kinder one-on-one. He gave Foreman advice on how to handle being the champion, like he was a Dutch uncle — couldn’t have been nicer.
“Then we walked outside, where there were a lot of people in the lobby, and Ali said, ‘You see this robot [emulating Foreman’s slow-moving power punches]? You know what I’m going to do to him?’
“You saw the two faces of Ali in one second. George was laughing and laughing. He got it.â€
After Ali beat Sonny Liston for the heavyweight belt in 1964, he faced being drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, and refused — provoking a three-year-plus absence from the ring and serving as a lightning rod during the height of the civil rights era.
“It’s hard for people 50 or younger to realize what this country was like in the 1950s and ’60s, how bad it was for African Americans in this country — how they fought just to eat at a lunch counter or stay at a hotel,†Arum said. “There was no opportunity.
“Ali spoke out against that in a way that really connected with people, even more than the melodic and philosophical way that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out. Because Ali was a great sportsman and boxer, he was able to reach people and, I think, had a tremendous effect on bringing change to this country.â€
No act was more principled than giving up massive boxing purses to defy the draft, Arum said.
“Once people saw that he sacrificed his livelihood for what he believed in, that really elevated him in the minds of people to be almost saint-like,†Arum said. “Everybody, myself included, counseled him not to take that step that led him to not fight for three and a half years, but he felt he was doing the right thing. And it ended up that it was the right thing — for him, the world and the country.â€
Ali returned to boxing in 1970 and lost an epic 1971 showdown with Joe Frazier, then reunited with the World Boxing Assn. heavyweight belt he lost due to the Vietnam stance by knocking out Foreman in 1974 in Africa.
Veteran boxing writer Jerry Izenberg, who covered the “Rumble in the Jungle,†found Ali after his eighth-round knockout victory standing alone at sunrise, overlooking the Congo River.
Without knowing anyone was behind him, Ali raised his famously long arms skyward, turned to see three writers watching the scene and said, “Fellas, you’ll never know what tonight meant to me.â€
Izenberg wrote, “In that moment, he was indeed the king of the world.â€
Ali quickly avenged a 1978 loss to Leon Spinks to claim the belt for a third time.
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Wong’s masterly touch brought a poetic quality to Disney’s “Bambi†that has helped it endure as a classic of animation. The pioneering Chinese American artist influenced later generations of animators. Full obituary
(Peter Brenner / Handout) 2/61
After bursting onto the scene opposite Gene Kelly in the classic 1952 musical “Singin’ in the Rain,†Reynolds became America’s Sweetheart and a potent box office star for years. Her passing came only one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, died at the age of 60. Reynolds was 84. Full obituary
(John Rooney / Associated Press) 3/61
George Michael, the English singer-songwriter who shot to stardom in the 1980s as half of the pop duo Wham!, went on to become one of the era’s biggest pop solo artists with hits such as “Faith†and “I Want Your Sex.†He was 53. Full obituary
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(Al Behrman / Associated Press) 5/61
The hugely popular south Indian actress later turned to politics and became the highest elected official in the state of Tamil Nadu. She was 68. Full obituary
(AFP / Getty Images) 6/61
Best known for her portrayal of Carol Brady on “The Brady Bunch,†Henderson
portrayed an idealized mother figure for an entire generation. Her character was the center of the show, cheerfully mothering her brood in an era when divorce was becoming more common. She was 82. Full obituary
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 7/61
Dubbed “Dr. Wonderful†by the media, the Texas surgeon performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States and the world’s first implantation of a wholly artificial heart. He also founded the Texas Heart Institute in Houston. He was 96. Full obituary
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press) 8/61
The prominent Los Angeles attorney went from defending his father, a powerful mob boss, to representing celebrities, corrupt businessmen, drug kingpins and the so-called Hollywood Madam, Heidi Fleiss. He was 70. Full obituary
(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times) 9/61
The award-winning journalist wrote for the Washington Post and the New York Times before becoming an anchor of public television news programs “PBS NewsHour†and “Washington Week.†Her career also included moderating the vice presidential debates in 2004 and 2008. She was 61. Full obituary
(Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images) 10/61
Instantly recognizable for his long white mane and a rich, hearty voice, Russell sang, wrote and produced some of rock ‘n’ roll’s top records. His hits included “Delta Lady,†“Roll Away the Stone,†“A Song for You†and “Superstar.†He was 74. Full obituary
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 11/61
The singer-songwriter’s literary sensibility and elegant dissections of desire made him one of popular music’s most influential and admired figures for four decades. Cohen is best known for his songs such as “Hallelujah,†“Suzanne†and “Bird on the Wire.†He was 82. Full obituary
(Joel Saget / AFP / Getty Images) 12/61
Reno was the first woman to serve as United States attorney general. Her unusually long tenure began with a disastrous assault on cultists in Texas and ended after the dramatic raid that returned Elian Gonzalez to his Cuban father. She was 78. Full obituary
(Dennis Cook / Associated Press) 13/61
The 1960s radical was in the vanguard of the movement to stop the Vietnam War and became one of the nation’s best-known champions of liberal causes. He was 76. Full obituary
(George Brich / Associated Press) 14/61
Tabei was the first woman to climb Mount Everest in 1975. In 1992, she also became the first woman to complete the “Seven Summits,†reaching the highest peaks of the seven continents. She was 77. Full obituary
(AFP / Getty Images) 15/61
Nixon was the creative force behind the popular soap operas “One Life to Live†and “All My Children.†She was a pioneer in bringing serious social issues, like racism, AIDS and prostitution, to daytime television. She was 93. Full obituary
(Chris Pizzello / Associated Press) 16/61
The former Israeli president was one of the founding fathers of Israel. The Nobel peace prize laureate was an early advocate of the idea that Israel’s survival depended on territorial compromise with the Palestinians. He was 93. Full obituary
(AFP / Getty Images) 17/61
A seven-time professional major tournament champion, Palmer revolutionized sports marketing as it is known today, and his success contributed to increased incomes for athletes across the sporting spectrum. He was 87. Full obituary
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press) 18/61
Known as the Vatican’s exorcist, Amorth, a Roman Catholic priest, helped promote the ritual of banishing the devil from people or places. He was 91. Full obituary
(AFP / Getty Images) 19/61
The American playwright was known for works such as “The Zoo Story,†“The Sandbox,†“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?†and “A Delicate Balance.†He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama three times. He was 88. Full obituary
(Jennifer S. Altman / For the Times) 20/61
The ska pioneer and Jamaican music legend recorded thousands of records, including such hits as “Al Capone†and “Judge Dread.†He helped ignite the ska movement in England, and later helped carry it into the rock-steady era in the mid-1960s. He was 78. Full obituary
(Larry Ellis / Getty Images) 21/61
Known as “the first lady of anti-feminism,†Schlafly was a political activist who galvanized grass-roots conservatives to help defeat the Equal Rights Amendment and, in ensuing decades, effectively push the Republican Party to the right. She was 92. Full obituary
(Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times) 22/61
O’Brian helped tame the Wild West as the star of TV’s “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp†and was the founder of a long-running youth leadership development organization. “Wyatt Earp†became a top 10-rated series and made O’Brian a household name. He was 91. Full obituary
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) 23/61
Jerry Heller, the early manager of N.W.A, was an important and colorful personality in the emerging West Coast rap scene in the 1980s. Heller was 75. Full obituary
(Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times) 24/61
Two-time Oscar nominee Gene Wilder brought a unique blend of manic energy and world-weary melancholy to films as varied as 1971’s children’s movie “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory†and the 1980 comedy “Stir Crazy.†He was 83. Full obituary
(AFP / Getty Images) 25/61
The beloved top-selling Mexican singer wooed crowds on both sides of the border with ballads of love and heartbreak for more than four decades. He was 66. Full obituary
(Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) 26/61
Known as the “queen of knitwear,†Sonia Rykiel became a fixture of Paris’ fashion scene, starting in 1968. French President Francois Hollande praised her as “a pioneer†who “offered women freedom of movement.†She was 86. Full obituary
(Thibault Camus / Associated Press) 27/61
The conservative political commentator hosted the long-running weekly public television show “The McLaughlin Group†that helped alter the shape of political discourse since its debut in 1982. He was 89. Full obituary
(Kevin Wolf / Associated Press) 28/61
Best-known for his post-bop recordings for Blue Note Records in the 1960s and 1970s, the inventive jazz vibraphonist played with a litany of jazz greats as both bandleader and sideman during a career spanning more than 50 years. He was 75. Full obituary
(Scott Chernis / Associated Press) 29/61
The British actor, who was 3-foot-8, gave life to the “Star Wars†droid R2-D2, one of the most beloved characters in the space-opera franchise and among the most iconic robots in pop culture history. He was 81. Full obituary
(Reed Saxon / Associated Press) 30/61
For many in L.A., Folsom was the face of the Parent Teacher Student Assn., better known as the PTSA or PTA. He served as the official and unofficial watchdog over the Los Angeles Unified School District and wrote about his experiences in his blog. He was 69. Full obituary
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) 31/61
Fountain combined the Swing Era sensibility of jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman with the down-home, freewheeling style characteristic of traditional New Orleans jazz to become a national star in the 1950s as a featured soloist on the “The Lawrence Welk Show.†He was 86. Full obituary
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 32/61
Lowery was a pioneer in efforts to help people suffering from poverty, addiction and mental illness move out of tents and cardboard boxes on Los Angeles’ sidewalks and into supportive housing. She was 70. Full obituary
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 33/61
Nixon, a Hollywood voice double, can be heard in place of the leading actresses in such classic movie musicals as “West Side Story,†“The King and I†and “My Fair Lady.†She was 86. Full obituary
(Rob Kim / AFP/Getty Images) 34/61
The department store heir’s widow was a socialite and philanthropist who hobnobbed with the world’s elite, epitomized high fashion and was best friends with former first lady Nancy Reagan. She was 93. Full obituary
(Evan Agostini / Associated Press) 35/61
The author and teacher was long established as a leading literary figure of Southern California. Her works include “Golden Days,†“There Will Never Be Another You†and her memoir “Dreaming, Hard Luck and Good Times in America.†She was 82. Full obituary
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) 36/61
The Nazi concentration camp survivor won the Nobel in 1986 for his message “of peace, atonement and human dignity.†“Night,†his account of his year in death camps, is regarded as one of the most powerful achievements in Holocaust literature. He was 87. Full obituary
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 37/61
One of the greatest basketball coaches of any gender or generation, Summitt spent 38 years as coach of the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team before dementia forced her early retirement. She was 64. Full obituary
(Wade Payne / Associated Press) 38/61
The iconic New York Times fashion photographer darted around New York on a humble bicycle to cover the style of high society grand dames and downtown punks with equal verve. He was 87. Full obituary
(Mark Lennihan / Associated Press) 39/61
Aguirre was best known for his portrayal of the towering “Profesor Jirafales,†the likable and often disrespected giraffe teacher on the 1970s-era hit show “El Chavo del Ocho.†The screwball comedy helped usher in an era of edgier comedy in Mexico and elsewhere. Aguirre was 82. Full obituary
(AFP / Getty Images) 40/61
The three-time heavyweight boxing champion’s brilliance in the ring and bravado outside it made his face one of the most recognizable in the world. He was 74. Full obituary
(John Rooney / Associated Press) 41/61
Like Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow, the CBS newsman became part of a group of journalists who set the tone for storytelling on television. He was on “60 Minutes†for 46 years, holding the longest tenure on prime-time television of anyone in history. He was 84. Full obituary
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 42/61
The first African American chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Williams steadied the agency in the tumultuous wake of the 1992 riots but was distrusted as an outsider by many officers and politicians. He was 72. Full obituary
(Nick Ut / Associated Press) 43/61
Best known for her role as Marie Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond,†Roberts won four Emmys for her work on that show and one for her work on “St. Elsewhere.†She was 90. Full obituary
(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times) 44/61
The country music legend sang of his law-breaking Bakersfield youth and penned a stream of No. 1 hits. He owed some of his fame to conservative anthems, including the combative 1969 release “Okie from Muskogee,†which seemed to mock San Francisco’s anti-war hippies. He was 79. Full obituary
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 45/61
The acclaimed Native American historian was the last surviving war chief of Montana’s Crow Tribe. President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. He was 102. Full obituary
(J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) 46/61
Germany’s longest-serving foreign minister brokered an end to the painful 40-year division of his homeland in 1990, but only after persevering for decades through the most tragic and destructive phases of Germany’s 20th century history. He was 89. Full obituary
(Martin Meissner / Associated Press) 47/61
The Iraqi-born British architect was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honor. She made her mark with buildings such as the London Aquatics Centre, the MAXXI museum for contemporary art in Rome and the innovative Bridge Pavilion in Zaragoza, Spain. She was 65. Full obituary
(Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press) 48/61
The former television talk show host became the first openly gay man to serve on the Los Angeles City Council. He advocated for the homeless, gays and lesbians and other liberal causes. He was 70. Full obituary
(Christina House / For The Times) 49/61
Garry Shandling’s comedic career spanned decades, but he is best known for his role as Larry Sanders, the host of a fictional talk show. His sitcom pushed the boundaries of TV, influencing shows such as “The Office†and “Modern Family.†He was 66. Full obituary.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 50/61
Ken Howard was president of SAG-AFTRA and an actor known for his role on TV’s ‘The White Shadow.’ He championed the merger of Hollywood’s two largest actors unions, which had a history of sparring. He was 71. Full obituary
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 51/61
The longtime Los Angeles radio disc jockey, whose real name was Art Ferguson, hosted the morning radio show for popular and influential station KHJ-AM in the late 1960s and went on to be a key player in the launch of latter-day powerhouses KROQ-AM and KIIS-FM. He was 71. Full obituary
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 52/61
The veteran actor built his early career playing heavies and won an Academy Award in 1968 for his supporting role as the tough Southern prison-camp convict who grew to hero-worship Paul Newman’s defiant title character in “Cool Hand Luke.†He was 91. Full obituary
(Warner Bros. / Getty Images) 53/61
A prolific entrepreneur, Mann over the course of seven decades founded 17 companies in fields ranging from aerospace to pharmaceuticals to medical devices. He was 90. Full obituary
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 54/61
The Egyptian diplomat helped negotiate his country’s landmark peace deal with Israel but then clashed with the United States when he served a single term as U.N. secretary-general. He was 93. Full obituary
(Marty Lederhandler / Associated Press) 55/61
Pro-BMX biker Dave Mirra was one of the most decorated athletes in X Games history. He held the record for the most medals in history with 24. He was 41. Full obituary
(Ed Reinke / Associated Press) 56/61
Maurice White, co-founder and leader of the groundbreaking ensemble Earth, Wind & Fire, was the source for a wealth of euphoric hits in the 1970s and early ‘80s, including ‘Shining Star,’ ‘September,’ and ‘Boogie Wonderland.’ He was 74. Full obituary
(Kathy Willens / Associated Press) 57/61
In a career that encompassed everything from big-budget Hollywood movies to classical theater, Rickman made bad behavior fascinating to watch from “Die Hard†to the “Harry Potter†movies. He was 69. Full obituary
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 58/61
The composer and former principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic was known for pushing music lovers and the music establishment to let go of the past and embrace new sounds, structures and textures. He was 90. Full obituary
(Christophe Ena / Associated Press) 59/61
The Academy Award winner was revered as one of the most influential cinematographers in film history for his work on classics including “Close Encounters of the Third Kind†and “The Deer Hunter.†He was 85. Full obituary
(Tamas Kovacs / EPA) 60/61
Gordon helped revolutionize surfing with the creation of the foam surfboard. His polyurethane boards were lighter and easier to ride, making surfing accessible -- which helped popularize the sport globally. He was in his 70s. Full obituary
(Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune/ZUMA Press) 61/61
The attorney and almond farmer was known for his battle to stop the $68-billion California bullet train project from slicing up his almond orchards -- part of a deeply emotional land war that has drawn in hundreds of farming families from Merced to Bakersfield. He was 92. Full obituary
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) “His story and his character and his life will be part of history that will be studied by whoever looks back on the last 50 years,†said Arum, who, like others, blames the toll of the brutal “Thrilla in Manila†as the beginning of the brain damage that plagued Ali.
Ali said his fatigue in the bout was “the closest thing to death†he ever experienced.
“We lost a giant today,†Pacquiao said. “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. May God bless them.â€
The California Boxing Hall of Fame announced Saturday that it will induct Ali into its posthumous wing Oct. 22 after he went 4-1 in five California fights, including three 1962 victories at the Los Angeles Sports Arena and a split-decision triumph over Ken Norton at the Forum in 1973.
Perhaps fittingly, UFC middleweight Kevin Casey, married to Ali’s daughter, Hana, fought to a split-draw Saturday at UFC 199 at the Forum.
Current World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, an Alabama product, won his belt last year on Ali’s 73rd birthday.
“It’s definitely a sad day for boxing and all the fans throughout the world,†Wilder said. “Ali, as a fighter and a man outside the ring — his character, charm, personality and his fighting skill were all phenomenal. I truly feel there will never be another Muhammad Ali, no matter what.
“People can emulate him, try to talk like him, but there will never be another man like him. So it’s just a sad moment for me.
“When I won that title on his birthday, I sort of felt as if he was passing the torch for me to carry. As he leaves, I’m even more determined to keep that Ali legacy going to bring excitement to the heavyweight division.â€
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