ali. with patty ann brown who is in on the fox report. >> for this fight i have wrestled with alligators and handcuffed lightning and you know i am bad. i murdered a rock and hospitalized a brick. i am so bad i make medicine sick. im so fast, man, i run through a hurricane and don't get wet. and i drown a drink of water and kill a dead tree. wait until you see mohammed ali. >> the world celebrating the life and legacy of the greatest mohammed ali. i am patty ann brown in for julie band p band. ali died in a phoenix hospital surrounded by family days after being admitted with respiratory problems. he was 74 years old. and he called himself the greatest of all time. he was a ledge sxend moves that dazzled fans and bewildered opponents and outside of the ring a man larger than life, political and controversial. he will be remembered as a man of the world who spoke his mind and wasn't afraid to take a chance. and went out of his way to be a kind, benevolent individual, that really changed the

ali boma ye! ali boma ye! ali boma ye! that mean killing. >> sometime when i'm walking down the street, kids follow me screaming "george foreman boma ye." then i don't think that's so nice so me as i'd like if they have anything to say about me they can say, george foreman loves africa. george foreman loves being here. not, george foreman killed him, i don't like that. >> boma ye! george foreman boma ye! boma ye! there he is. boma ye! sucker, you aren't nothing. they understand me. >> we were all for muhammad ali. foreman, we didn't know him. foreman said, why? i'm black. blacker than muhammad ali. why all this bias? yes, muhammad ali, he was lighter. but he was a real person. he was genuine. muhammad ali could have been even lighter-skinned than he was. but for us, he was defending the good cause. for africans and the whole world. >> punches, seven punches. in a good, clean salad, every ingredient is the main ingredient. whether it's big... or small. first to go. or best for last. sweet. or not so sweet. whether it's toss

muhammad ali, the greatest of all time. tonight, muhammad ali. he floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee. the three time world champion boxer who took on racism, intolerance and finally parkinson's. the humor still there'ven in silence. tonight we remember the death and life of an american legend. this special edition of "nightline" will be right back. >>> good evening. thank you for joining us. we begin with the breaking news, the ledge dare boxer, muhammad ali has died at 74. he was the beloved iconic three-time boxing champion. as byron pits tells us tonight, he was so much more. >> you out, sucker. >> reporter: he was a lightning rod in and out of the boxing ring. known for his grace and power and poetry. >> i'm handsome. i'm fast. i'm pretty, and can't possibly be beat. >> reporter: he was born cassius clay in louisville, kentucky in 1942. he is learned to fight as a boy after his bicycle was stolen and soon climbed the ranks of amateur boxing. by 18 he was the star of the u.s. olympic team. light on his feet and unlike anything the boxi

muhammed ali has done it. >> muhammed ali. muhammed ali. >> muhammed ali. he was like a sleeping elephant. he can do whatever you want around a sleeping elephant. whatever you want. but when he wakes up, he tramples everything. >> muhammed ali, booma yeah. muhammed ali booma yeah. rge foreman. >> he did it. he's champion again. we couldn't believe it. it was such a classic performance and so beautiful that at the moment ali hit the knockout punch, foreman began to go, ali followed him around, it was, ali had his right cocked for one more punch, but he didn't throw it, he didn't want to ruin the esthetic of the man going down with the punch he threw on the way down. >> i think a man has a mixed emotion when you see the end of the fight. i always feel enormous sympathy for the man losing it. when you see a titanic formidable figure suddenly on the ground. >> now when we see george on television, and know that after that knockout, he went through two years of the deepest depression, he almost didn't come out of it. to see the man who has come out of it. to see

he was an ali man and he came to kentucky. i moved to kentucky about 20 years ago. when he came about ten years ago the first thing he said is i know ali was born here. i want to know where. i want to go to these museums. it was all about him. my house in peru you'll see a huge picture of muhammad ali. so you know how big of a fan he is. and it's all kinds of people from all walks of life. all parts of the puzzle. it's really something. >> he was and i think a hot of young folks don't necessarily appreciate this long before michael jordan. he was a global star. undeniably the most famous person walking this earth for the better part of two decades. i also had some conversations with some folks who never -- they didn't share the ring with him but they were boxers. here's what he told me and it's to be happy for all things and he put all the memories he had given everybody to try to be the best in their endeavors. >> take me back to that first time you met him. it was in the mid 80s. >> and i met ali and it was a great thing. >>

ali parry every thrust. still nimble with his hands could and then he hit him -- it could not have been very hard in the stomach -- and the kid throws up his arms and says "i quit!" [laughter] he got out and turned to me and said "michael, i will never get in the ring again. that is another period in my life." tom: he ended his boxing career and is being warned in louisville, kentucky. he is being mourned everywhere. literally being mourned everywhere. when people describe him as a citizen of the world, as michael did in an article, that is true and very unusual in this current world. nita: i was checking to see where muhammad ali had traveled. i found out he had went to australia and bangladesh. the panel probably knows about these travels. he said he wanted to go to australia to meet aboriginal people and he wanted to go to bangladesh because that part of the world was unknown to him. he started in kentucky but his vision was no one kentucky -- was beyond kentucky. because he traveled so extensively come h

ali goes down. >> it was ali's first ever professional loss. but he and smokin' joe were far from finished. >> joe frazier is in trouble because the muhammad ali joe frazier is going to meet is going to be better than the muhammad ali he met three years ago. >> when we return, the greatest comeback ever. >> i thought he was going to fall. this was going to be a long night. >>> too much speed. too fast. i'm too fast. >> it was 1974 and 32-year-old muhammad ali was on a mission. >> i'm going to retire the heavyweight champion of the world. that's right. if you think the world was surprised when nixon resigned, wait till i kick foreman's behind. >> big george foreman was boxing's most feared fighter. destroying joe frazier in two rounds. >> i'm sitting on the throne. i thought i was doing a charitable contribution to muhammad ali by allowing him to fight for my title. >> the match was called rumble in the jungle. >> i was being offered 5 million to fight muhammad ali. i went to africa to get my money and beat up someone and go home. >> they want t

ali a guest of honor. a global ambassador for whom parkinson's could all but silence his speech, presence. >> he was a presence. he showed up. he spoke out for causes he believed in. i was sorry i didn't get a chance to speak to him one more time. i'm sorry for his family, for his fans, for people around the world who loved him. and at the same time, too, i was somewhat relieved for him that he was no longer battling or confined by it, that he's his true self again. >> reporter: in the ring, he had fuel peers, often compared to the great joe louis. it was said that louis was the first athlete to make america see and admire a black man. it was ali who made them listen. >> he was a credit to his race, the human race. i think in the final analysis rnls muhammad ali did us all a great service. >> our thanks to byron pitts. when we come back, our very own barbara walters with muhammad ali on women, religion, happiness, even what color he believes god and since no one can sell the greatest better than the man hi

so through the muhammad ali center website, muhammad ali center.org. it's in the release, i believe, that you got that you received. but through muhammad ali center the actual service will be streamed throughout the world and translated as well. so they'll be available to follow along. well, it's going to be in the muslim tradition, obviously that's why the by the imam. there will be further updates in louisville tomorrow night. thank you. >>> all right. you've been listening to bob gunnell in scottsdale, arizona. that's where muhammad ali passed away last night at 9:10 p.m. local time. that's 12:10 eastern time. the spokesman for the family there gave us details of the funeral and memorial arrangements. extensive details. very interesting details. over the next 24 to 48 hours muhammad ali will return to louisville kentucky, his hometown. on thursday there will be a private service for the family only and then friday, friday will be a day that, i think, will go down in history in this city. muhammad ali's hometown. there will be a funeral procession th

ali said, i got through. it and ali, and that changes the fight. the fight game is great and strong. the heavy weight is strong. i follow it regularly. we have the heavy weight and middleweight. is it like ali. he could have been the greatest football or baseball player he could do it all. he had the magic outside to make people sign and laugh and signed oofr autograph and made kids smile. >> final thoughts. >> it is a time for everybody to reflect and wake up every day no matter the situation and suffering about. enjoy the day. mohammed loved living and didn't matter about parkinson or anything else. hemented to wake up and have a good time. >> george forman i appreciate it. and more remembrance now of the champ. >> you know how good i am. i don't have to tell you about my strategy. tell him what you are going to do. float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. rumble young man, rumble. what are you doing right now? making a cake! ayla reminds me of like a master chef and emiana reminds me of like a monster chef. uh oh. i don't see cake, i just se

ali. >> the world celebrating the life and legacy of the greatest mohammed ali. i am patty ann brown in for julie band p band. ali died in a phoenix hospital surrounded by family days after being admitted with respiratory problems. he was 74 years old. and he called himself the greatest of all time. he was a ledge sxend moves that dazzled fans and bewildered opponents and outside of the ring a man larger than life, political and controversial. he will be remembered as a man of the world who spoke his mind and wasn't afraid to take a chance. and went out of his way to be a kind, benevolent individual, that really changed the world. i mean mohammed ali changed the way that people challenged authority. [applause] >> ali's life was full of achievement and giving scombak acknowledged in 2005 when he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom by president bush. despite battling parkinson over 30 years he was dedicateed to humanitarian work. he was laid to rest in kentucky. we have fox team co

ali, ali. they loved this map. he was a giant all over the world. for more reasons than i could ever count. but for some reason he meant so much to a lot of people. his identity is yet to be explained or expressed. all i can say is he made the word the greatest. now you look at muhammad ali and you see the greatest. that's the definition of the greatest, is muhammad ali. >> george, he went from showman to statesman of sorts. he seemed to be living a life of teaching moments. what did he want people too understand he felt like they didn't? >> didn't have to say a lot because once he got on the scene, you looked at him and you felt better. muhammad ali made you look better, feel better. during a period where he suffered with the parkinson's. people who would get sick, would retreat, especially celebrities who didn't look like they did when they were young. they would hide. muhammad ali came out to the world and said, look at me. lighting that olympic torch. he had a tremble but for some reason he

ali! ali!" and he's holding my hand and i am thinking, this is the most surreal moment of my entire life. just imagine that. all of churchill downs and they're cheering him on, and he thrived off of that! you could tell, he loved it. he loved being in the spotlight, making people happy and he would just stop. he let go of my hand and you would do the one-two punch move that he loved to do and put a big smile on people's faces. he just loved making everyone happy. he just left such an indelible mark on people really all around the world, including myself. >> you really sort of point out an interesting feature of muhammad ali that's not talked about so much, and that is his connection with children. he really seemed to be the kind of man who loved children and children, in turn, loved him. >> it's so true! joe, i remember -- i was thinking back on all these memories. when i was a little girl, he gravitated toward me. had he this little twinkle in his lie and you could tell he just loved being arou

ali was on a roll again. but his great athletic comeback was in can sha sa in what was then zaire. >> only last week, i murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick. i'm so mean, i make medicine sick. >> ali knocked out the heavily favored young champion george foreman. it was called the rumble in the jungle. his last fight in 1981 would mark the beginning of another battle that ali described as his toughest. the diagnosis that he was afflicted with parkinson's disease. after two decades of redefining the heavyweight division, ali was forced to retire. his lifetime record, 56 victories, just five defeats. but he never retreated from living a very public life. in 1996, ali provided one of the most poignant moments in sports history. with 3 billion people watching, he lit the olympic flame at the summer games in atlanta. his hands tremendous being but never wavering. ali remained the consummate showman. as his condition grew progressively worse, he struggled each day to whisper a word. his hands and l

muhammad ali. we have new details at cnn about the final hours of muhammad ali's life and also what the ali family will do in the coming days. a private service just for the close family members already planned for here in louisville on thursday. and then the rest of the world will have a chance to celebrate the life and really that is what the family wants. a celebration to celebrate the life of muhammad ali and remember the extraordinary accomplishments of america's legendary heavyweight champion. in the past couple of hours, we learned that the official cause of death of muhammad ali, a family spokesman said in his final moments ali was surrounded by family. cnn's jason carroll is in scottsdale, arizona, where ali passed away nearly 24 hours ago. jason, tell us what you've learned. >> reporter: well, a little earlier we heard from the family spokesman, he gave us a lot of information, lot of details about what happened. he started out by explaining muhammad ali's family checked e him into hospit

. >> ali! ali! >> ali! ali! >> pelley: louisville, america, and the world say farewell to muhammad ali. >> we all are here for the greatest man on earth, that's muhammad ali. muhammad ali is the man! >> pelley: he had fists of steel. >> one of the things that he would tell people, "it's not bragging if you can back it up." and look at how many times he backed it up. >> pelley: and a heart of gold. >> i can specifically tell you that they played patty cake. those are things that, as a dad, you never forget your entire lifetime. >> he was funny. he was beautiful. he was the most perfect athlete you ever saw, and those were his own words. ( laughter ) captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley, reporting tonight from louisville, kentucky. >> pelley: today, this city, named for louis xvi, gave muhammad ali a send-off befitting a king. he was american royalty, one of the most famous and most admired people in the world, a champion fighter, ambassador for peace, and the world came her

ali! ali! ali! >> time, time, time is not on our side. after that speech, i have to edit my initial remarks, honorable first man william j. clinton. chief sidney hill in 2002 was selected as principal spiritual leader of its people and beloved to all who know him, a leader whose spirituality is coupled with a passionate pursuit of justice. we are honored that he has come here today to share a few words and a few thoughts with us. chief hill. [ applause ] [ speaking in foreign language ] [ speaking in foreign language ] [ speaking in foreign language ] [ speaking in foreign language ] [ applause ] >> this is united nation translation, he said, my relatives, it is my responsibility to pick up the words for the people of the longhouse. they wish you well. they want you to be at peace of mind. now there's great darkness that has happened to us. you must understand that you have gathered us here, that his road is straight. please believe he will arrive at his land, our creator. it is the same as you call him allah. these were the words and to

yet, ali, nobody pushed or informed that conversation better than ali himself. as a performer, he will go down as one of the most transformed figures ever too. >> he wasn't satisfied, though, just to be an athlete, just to be a boxer. >> famously, he said, i'm not going to be what you want me to be. i'm going to be what i want to be. "sports illustrated" has chronicled this over the years since muhammad ali was still a teenager fighting as an amateur. >> what is it? you are going to come out with a cover, i think it is behind you right now. the new cover of "sports illustrated." the 40th cover with muhammad ali. >> it is the 40th cover. it is the second most in "sports illustrated" history behind michael jordan. this isn't to diminish what he accomplished. remember this about boxes with basketball, basketball has a much more continuous schedule. there was a time in 1992 where we ran three consecutive covers of michael jordan. ali was a boxer. boxing is not a daily event. it is not a weekly event. it is not even a monthly event. yet, he ended up on the cover 40 t

ali a guest of honor. a global ambassador for whom parkinson's could all but silence his speech, but not his presence. >> he was a presence. he showed up. he spoke out for causes he believed in. i was sorry i didn't get a chance to speak to him one more time. i'm sorry for his family, for his fans, for people around the world who loved him. and at the same time, too, i was somewhat relieved for him that he was no longer battling or confined by it, that he's his true self again. >> reporter: in the ring, he had fuel peers, often compared to the great joe louis. it was said that louis was the first athlete to make america see and admire a black man. it was ali who made them listen. >> he was a credit to his race, the human race. i think in the final analysis rnls muhammad ali did us all a great service. >> our thanks to byron pitts. when we come back, our very own barbara walters with muhammad ali on women, religion, happiness, even what color he believes god to be. and since no one can sell the greatest bet

ali goes down. >> it was ali's first ever professional loss. but he and smokin' joe were far from finished. >> joe frazier is in trouble because the muhammad ali joe frazier is going to meet is going to be better than the muhammad ali he met three years ago. >> when we return, the greatest comeback ever. >> i thought he was going to fall. this was going to be a long night. what's it like to be in good hands? man, it's like pure power at your finger tips. like the power to earn allstate reward points, every time i drive. ...want my number? and cash back for driving safe. and the power to automatically find your car... i see you car! and i got the power to know who's coming and when if i break down. ...you must be gerry. hey... in means getting more from your car insurance with the all-powerful drivewise app. it's good to be in, good hands. only one network gives you more than just great coverage. it's t-mobile! only t-mobile's lets you stream video and music - for free! and we doubled our lte coverage in the last year. the other guys can't say t

ali said, i got through. it and ali, and that changes the fight. the fight game is great and strong. the heavy weight is strong. i follow it regularly. we have the heavy weight and middleweight. is it like ali. he could have been the greatest football or baseball player he could do it all. he had the mic outside to make people sign and laugh and signed oofr autograph and made kids smile. >> final thoughts. >> it is a time for everybody to reflect and wake up every day no matter the situation and suffering about. enjoy the day. mohammed loved living and didn't matter about parkinson or anything else. hemented to wake up and have a good time. >> george forman i appreciate it. and more remembrance now of the champ. >> you know how good i am. i don't have to tell you about my strategy. tell him what you are going to do. float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. rumble young man, rumble. what's it like to be in good hands? like finding new ways to be taken care of. home, car, life insurance obviously, ohhh... but with added touches you can't get ever

and the mayor paid tribute to ali. >> muhammad ali belongs to the world, but he only has one hometown. [ applause ] the louisville lip spoke to everyone, but we heard him in a way no one else could, as our brother, our uncle, and our inspiration. >> nbc's craig melvin joins us for more from louisville. craig, what can you tell us more about funeral plans that are coming up later next week? >> coming up later next week? >> reporter: harry, muhammad ali will return to where it all began here in louisville. this, of course, was not just where he was born. this is where he learned how to box at the age of 12. the story's been told a number of times today, but his bicycle, his $60 schwinn bicycle had been stolen and he said he wanted to whoop whoever took his bike. so he found the guy running the local boxing training center there who also happened to be a police officer. he said, you should probably learn how to fight. that's how it all began. it will be a funeral. president clinton will be there, bryant gumbel and billy crystal. there will also be a private ceremony for his closest famil

>> ali! >> reporter: with a couple of wins under his belt, his next opponent, kuncht heavyweight champion joe frazier. >> an explosion to the joe and muhammad ali goes down. >> reporter: ali suffers his first professional defeat. determined to reclaim the title, he trains harder than ever, and epic fights soon followed. in zaire, the rumble in the jungle. ali wins the title back. then the thriller in manila. the third and fim fight with frazier. >> this is muhammad ali at his very best. >> ali would become boxing's first three-time heavyweight champion. in 1981, with 56 wins and only five losses, he retires at the age of 39. his agility and speech pattern now noticeably different. >> didn't realize how scientific and quick it was. >> reporter: just three years after retiring, ali was diagnosed with parkinson's. and for the rest of his life, that disease would affect his movements and eventually silence his voice. >> i believe all of you remember muhammad's pre-parkinson's days, when he moved

. >> everybody want to be like muhammad ali. at the time i did anyway. >> reporter: it's the name the world knew then. when these -- one these boxers say the world now will never forget. >> muhammad was an icon in boxing and also in history. >> reporter: reporting in west philadelphia -- >> i took on the world. anita oh, cbs3 "eyewitness news." >> well, ali's personality was so magnetic that even his rivals in the ring couldn't resist his charm. george foreman spoke earlier today about how much he loved his former foe. >> after you get out of the ring with him and look at him, everybody falls in love with him. you can't help it. he was one loveable good looking great guy and you wanted to be around him. >> foreman and ali famously squared off in 1974 in yeah. ly one of ali's foes turned long time friend was the lehigh valley's larry holmes the greatest and the easton assassin squared off also in a memorable championship bout. "eyewitness news" reporter alexandria hoff talked to holmes and local boxers about ali's life and legacy

ali boma ye! ali boma ye! ali boma ye! that mean killing. >> sometime when i'm walking down the street, kids follow me screaming "george foreman boma ye." then i don't think that's so nice so me as i'd like if they have anything to say about me they can say, george foreman loves africa. george foreman loves being here. not, george foreman killed him, i don't like that. >> boma ye! george foreman boma ye! boma ye! there he is. boma ye! sucker, you aren't nothing. they understand me. >> we were all for muhammad ali. foreman, we didn't know him. foreman said, why? i'm black. blacker than muhammad ali. why all this bias? yes, muhammad ali, he was lighter. but he was a real person. he was genuine. muhammad ali could have been even lighter-skinned than he was. but for us, he was defending the good cause. for africans and the whole world. >> punches, seven punches. >>> i'm going to fight for the . (jon bon jovi) with directv there is. ♪ you see, we've got the power to turn back time ♪ ♪ so let's restart the show that starte

ali was able toll pick him off. a strategic triumph for muhammad ali. the consequences of that fight where he and joe frazier just thrashed each other for 14 rounds, taking so much punishment and all those other fights, there's not much doubt that that had something to do with him and the parkinson's. it really is a tragedy. >> stay with us. >> thank you. >> he was tweeted as a giant among men. ali displayed a greatness in talent, courage, and conviction, that most of us will ever be able to truly comprehend. here are some of his best moments. >> i don't like fighters who talk too mump. >> i must be the greatest. i told this world. >> float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. >> i'm the quickest in the ring. >> this might shock and amaze ya but i will destroy joe frazer. >> i'm so bad you know what i was doing? i went out to the jungle. i'm bad, man. >> can i dance? is the pope a catholic? >> the man to beat me haven't been born yet. >> well, i'm the greatest. if you get too small, i'll knock you out. >> last week i murdered a rock, injured a stone, hos

. >> reporter: since ali's death crowds have been coming to the muhammad ali center to reflect on their memories of the champ. >> how did you guys become friends. >> oh, we became friends, we wind up practicing training together. >> reporter: boxing together. >> boxing. >> reporter: ali's friend victor bender had nearly a lifetime full of memories. he met ali when he was 13. >> as a youngster he was very quiet, he wasn't very vocal. >> reporter: really? >> yeah, he wasn't at all. >> reporter: it wasn't until he got the medal. >> when he got that metal a whole different world changed for him. >> reporter: having visited ali several times in recent years, bender says he thought his long time friend would fight his way out of the hospital as he had done several times before. how was his wife doing? >> she's the backbone. a very special woman and she loves her husband and she wanted to be there every time, anything, his needs and what happened she was there to make sure she had it. >> this was the day after he. >> reporter: former sports writer billy reid covered the three-time heavyweight

he said it's muhammad ali's fist. i knew i had to have it. i was just obsessed with ali. i bought it and called ali up and they said we're in new york. bring it over and he'll sign it for you. i brought it over and went to this meeting and unrolled it. it's like this big. and the champ was sitting in a chair and looked at me. i handed him the pen and he looked up and went -- i said what's the matter? he goes, not my fist. i thought, i got ripped off. he smiled and gave that little smile and signed it. i love the guy. i really do. and what you were talking about, this procession through the streets of louisville. as emotional as i think this memorial is going to be later, i think that's going to be what gets me. the images of the procession going through the streets and the people lining the streets and waving and saluting and getting to say good-bye to their hero. >> one of the most iconic images i bet a lot of folks had is muhammad ali in 1996 in atlanta. you were there. >> i was there with bryant gumbel, and we, you know, were in the stadium. and there was so much discu

abc's ryan smith is in louisville where he spoke to muhammad ali's brother. >> reporter: tonight, ali's hometown celebrating the man they simply called the champ. he was the greatest of all times. >> reporter: a final salute to their son, the city's ent star and perhaps its greatest source of pride. his brother returning to their childhood home today. >> i feel like crying. >> you all were close. >> very, very close. my brother was my best friend. >> reporter: ali's boxing career, starting inside a louisville ring at 12. by 18, an olympic gold medalist. at 22, heavyweight champion of the world. today, at louisville's muhammad ali center, many remembering stories of how the hometown hero touched their lives. >> what was he like in high school? >> i remember this guy who stood up and talked like, "i don't care what you think about me." >> his brash, outspoken manner earning him the nickname louisville lip early in his career -- >> float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. >> reporter: eventually endearing him to fans. >> reporter: but had a softer side. when this man's father was dying of

ali was in fair condition. but by the end of the week as his family began to gather here, it became clear ali's condition was grave. muhammad ali was taken from his home outside paradise valley, arizona, may 31st at 1:00 in the afternoon. the ambulance call said a 74-year-old man with respiratory issues needed transport to the hospital. he had breathing problems that led to a similar hospitalization in scotts dale last year. his daughter, laila, changed her facebook picture to a photo of ali and her and posted a message thanking fans for their thoughts and prayers. the thoughts poured out over night as friends and fans alike mourned the loz of a legendary boxer. >> he was the greatest ever as far as i was concerned. but for far more reasons than boxing. >> he set a standard i don't think any other athlete in the world has ever, ever met. >> reporter: bill clinton called ali greater than a legend. and don king, the fighter's former promoter, toelds the associated press, ali will never die. he stood for the world

he said look, ali was drab and ali risked all. you got to respect that he. >> you know, i keep coming back to his title. the greatest and how many millions of people are really going to learn what they know about muhammad ali over these next few days? those of us lucky enough to share a patent and a time frame and part of a lifetime with him i'm not talking about those of house were lucky enough to know him. i did not. those of us who were lucky enough to watch him to, see him, to exist alongside of him, he was the only one who proclaimed himself the greatest. and then backed it up. and it's through tracing his life and times that you trace american life over the past few decades. mike, we've been saying, warfare, race relations, the struggle. athletics. marketing, branding to be gross about it. communications, and just being a charismatic icon. >> brian, there about it. the moment that we've all continued to circle back to tonight is the olympics in atlanta in 1996. and even in that impaired state, his voice stolen, his grace sto

the young ali fighter lady. laila ali that's her mother. so here he is ready to fight foreman. and i remember as a kid i'm thinking he's got woman troubles and he's going to fight george foreman. who in the heck can concentration. but he broke up with belinda and became romantically involved with veronica and knocked out george foreman. that was a busy week, but he was that great. he could compartment lies his troubles. and i believe that's belinda next to him, screen left. >> '74 addressing the nation of islam. the next year he left the nation and became sort of more mainstream. >> i believe the foreman fight was '75. you see him there with belinda and then the next one was the next portion of his life. >> this is in new orleans, and once again lost the title. and got it back. >> i'll tell you back story there. he fought leon pinks. and -- michael spings, and leonspinks. he lost, he didn't train and he grew a mustache. he called himself dark gable. for clark gable. he was out of shape, and he grew a mustache. and leon spinks beat him. he came back in february of '78 he comes b

and don king said ali will never die. ali stood for the world. ali with a charity that supports research in parkinsson's. muhammad ali had three homes. one in arizona, in michigan and in his hometown in looufd. the family to release more details on funeral arrangements later today. dan and paula. >> jim, thank you. ali remained a fighter right to the end. he did not let his condition sideline him. >> it was boxing that made him a star but his personally made muhammad ali a legend. abc's robin roberts conducted one of the final interviews with ali, and she has a look back at this extraordinary life. >> reporter: muhammad ali was a lightning rod both in and out of the boxing ring. known for his grace and power and his poetry. >> i'm hand some, i'm fast, i'm pretty, and can't possi beat. >> reporter: he was born cassius clay in louisville, kentucky n 1942. he learned to fight as a boy after his bicycle was stolen and soon joined the ranks of amateur boxing. by 18, he was the star of a u.s. olympic team. light on his fight and unlike anything the box

. >> ali, ali, ali. >> sometimes he does that. it happened after the frazier fight in manila. >> reporter: what happened? >> i don't know, i wasn't there, but ever since the frazier fight in manil ait's sort of like narcolepsy, he'll have flashbacks and it's like nightmares and his face will twist up like he's boxing and he throws pushes at people. whenever he starts snoring heavily i have to get out of the bed. >> reporter: so when he starts-- he's not putting on? >> no, this actually happens. and the doctor told us not to really try to wake him if that does happen because he might end up with a heart atta it might frighten him, so i don't. i just get up and move. that's-- that's-- that's the hard part. you have to sort of-- >> reporter: you got me. >> ninan: unforgettable moment. well, a reminder tonight, "48 hours" will present a special for the champ, "muhammad ali:remembering a legend," at 9:00, eight central right here on cbs. that's the cbs weekend news for this saturday. the news always continues on our 24-hour network, cb

ali! ali! ali! >> pelley: louisville, america, and the world say farewell to muhammad ali. >> greatest man on earth, that's muhammad ali. muhammad ali is the man! >> pelley: he had fists of steel. >> one of the things that he would tell people, "it's not bragging if you can back it up." and look at how many times he backed it up. >> pelley: and a heart of gold. >> i can specifically tell you that they played patty cake. those are things that as a dad, you never forget your entire lifetime >> he was funny. he was beautiful. he was the most perfect athlete you ever saw, and those were his own words. ( laughter ) captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley. reporting tonight from louisville, kentucky. >> pelley: today, this city, named for louis xvi. champion fighter, ambassador for peace, and the world came here to louisville to say gone. >> so even in death, muhammad has something to say. >> pelley: among those eulogizing ali at an interfaith memorial service were his

thank you. [ applause ] >>> lonnie ali delivering eulogy for her husband muhammad ali. we now pause for a moment while some stations leave our coverage and return to regular programming. you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours. you know what it means. so does pat toomey. toomey got rich working on wall street. then he got elected and kept working, for wall street. voting to let banks continue their risky practices. and supporting huge tax breaks for millionaires, but higher taxes on working families. no wonder he's gotten millions from wall street. pat toomey. right for wall street. wrong for pennsylvania. senate majority pac is responsible for the content of this advertising. >>> we've been watching and listening to this moving tribute to the muhammad ali in louisville, kentucky. right now his eldest daughter maryum remembering her father. take a listen. >> so many shared personal stories about what you have meant to them as you have exemplified values and qualities that have enhanced their lives. if i had every dollar for every story i could pay for the sky. your fami

ask your hep c specialist if harvoni is right for you. >>> ali, ali, ali? touch him -- >> sometimes he does that. >> yeah? >> it happened after the frazier fight in manila. >> what happened? >> i don't know. i wasn't there. but ever since the frazier fight in manila, muhammad will -- sort of like narcolepsy. he'll start sleeping -- >> i love this. "60 minutes" cameras captured a classic moment between ed bradley and muhammad ali. the boxing legend appears to fall asleep. ali's wife tells bradley what's happening. >> so he's not putting on when he's doing this -- >> no, this actually happens. and the doctors told us ton really try to wake him if it does because he might end one a heart attack because it might frighten him, so i don't. i get up and move. that's -- that's you have to sort of -- [ snore ] [ laughter ] >> how great was that? >> what's great is that they're all in on it. >> except ed. >> except ed. 20 years ago, guys. 20 years ago that happened. >> ed's so serious. yeah, yeah. >> priceless. >>> generations of athletes found a role model in muhamm

respect to ali worldwide. r.i.p. and edward saying ali was the greatest man that ever lived. look at a boxer, fighter, trailblazer, but more importantly, human being. muhammad ali once shared how he would like to be remembered. quote, i'd like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times, who was humorous, and who treated everyone right. as a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him and who helped as many people as he could. as a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. as a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. and if all that's too much, then i guess i'll settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and champion of his people. and i wouldn't even mind if folks forgot how pretty i was. he certainly was a funny guy. >>> let's change gears. in other news, we have weather to talk about. we've got to get over to first alert meteorologist howard bernstein. what's on the way, howard? >> we could have showers and storms later tonight here in the metro and tomorrow yellow weather alert. may

, ali, ali, did you notice it and what was that like? >> for a legend like muhammad ali to come to my fight, it was a dream come true. you know, i never dreamed that had ali would come to see me fight. and when he did come see me fight, that made me want to go out there and perform that much better. >> was he the greatest fighter of all time. he's called the greatest. he called himself the greatest. that's how he's known worldwide. is he? was he? >> well, in his era. we're talking about was he the greatest -- one of the big skpes greatest athletes of his time. yes. you know, will there ever be another ali. we just don't know. we may never see another ali in our generation. you know, but he's such a great person. such a great person. he will be missed. truly missed. i legend. >> do you have a special moment or something personal that you can share with our audience of time that you spent with him? >> when i first touched ali's hand, i shook his hand and he put his arms around me. i can remember. i was 19 years old. and i said to myself, i

muhammad ali, the greatest of all time. tonight, muhammad ali. he floated like a butterfly, stung like a bee. the three time world champion boxer who took on racism, intolerance and finally parkinson's. the humor still there'ven in silence. tonight we remember the death and life of an american legend. this special edition of "nightline" will be right back. >>> good evening. thank you for joining us. we begin with the breaking news, the ledge dare boxer, muhammad ali has died at 74. he was the beloved iconic three-time boxing champion. as byron pits tells us tonight, he was so much more. >> you out, sucker. >> reporter: he was a lightning rod in and out of the boxing ring. known for his grace and power and poetry. >> i'm handsome. i'm fast. i'm pretty, and can't possibly be be >> reporter: he was born cassius clay in louisville, kentucky in 1942. he is learned to fight as a boy after his bicycle was stolen and soon climbed the ranks of amateur boxing. by 18 he was the star of the u.s. olympic team. light on his feet and unlike anything the boxing

ali knocked foreman out in the eighth round of that fight. >>> one of ali's foes turned long time friend was the lehigh valley's own larry holmes the eastern assassin took on the greatest. alexandria hoff talked to holmes and local boxers about muhammad ali's life and legacy. >> (bells tolling). >> reporter:. >> a final 10 count marked what seems to be the conclusion of wanty one grand and glorious fight except it's really only beginning for those who have learned what it means to be great. >> definitely a lot of practice and a lot of hard work. >> reporter: by sheer coincidence an annual community day was held at the joe hand gym on spring garden street where the legacy of muhammad ali was celebrated. >> he set such a high mark just not only in boxing just life period. >> the fight was won before you goat in there because he intimidated a lot of people. >> reporter: only five men ever managed to defeat muhammad ali, one of them being philadelphia resident joe frazier. another larry holmes who we traveled to meet. >> the first time i hear him swear called me every name in the book and i

muhammad ali died friday at the age of 74. he suffered for decades from parkinson's disease, a disease most likely caused by boxing. he was surrounded by his family when he died, a family spokesperson talked about those emotional final moments with ali. >> monday night he was in the hospital, but he was in fair condition. and we expected that to be the case. you know, muhammad has battled back many times and we expected it to happen this time. the family was called when things became more serious. still had a lot of hope that it was going to turn around, but it became clear, in discussions with lonnie ali and with his doctors, that his condition wasn't going to improve. and so, you know, they were able to bring all family members in the last 24 hours, when we knew that things weren't going to improve. they were given time to say goodbye. >> as the world mourns the loss of the legend, so does muhammad ali's hometown of louisville, kentucky. at a ceremony at the city's metro hall, the flag was lowered to half-staff and the mayor