Current boxers pay tribute to Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali wasn't just a great fighter, although he's certainly one of the best ever.
Ali, who died Friday at 74, was an icon. He defied the military draft for the Vietnam War and lost part of his prime boxing career as a result.
Born Cassius Clay, he inspired so many boys to enter a boxing gym for the first time and pushed them to greatness in a sport that demands it.
All these years after Ali last stepped foot in the ring, fighters will tell you they took up pugilism because of the legend's exploits inside and out of the squared circle.
And who could blame them? Ali was as confident, loquacious and boastful when he wasn't fighting as he was adept at mixing it up. His epic battles with George Foreman and Joe Frazier only served to add to the legend.
"He has always been my idol — not only in boxing but also in life," WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder said. "He set the pattern for modern day heavyweight champions and set the standard for all professional athletes.
“Winning the championship on (Ali's) birthday by beating Bermane Stiverne on Jan., 17, 2015, was a special and very magical moment for me because Muhammad Ali was and is still definitely my all-time favorite. So, I definitely felt like all of this was meant to be. I still have VHS tapes on this man throughout his whole career.
“It’s fascinating how he lived his life inside and outside of the ring. He’s a man of principle, but he was also a man who made everyone laugh and a man everyone wanted to be around. Whether they look up to someone, or they’re the reason you got into boxing, I think everybody takes a page from someone’s book to add to their legacy, and Muhammad Ali is the icon of boxing for me. His passing leaves a big void in the world."
Growing up, it was hard to miss the classic fights on TV. They appeared on ESPN seemingly every Saturday, a constant reminder of just how ubiquitous Ali was. It's not just that he was supremely talented. Floyd Mayweather was the best fighter of this generation, but he rarely entertained.
Ali was in several bouts named Fight of the Year, and two of his matchups — the victory over Foreman in Zaire and his rubber match win over Frazier in the Philippines — joined sports lore with special names: "The Rumble in the Jungle" and "The Thrilla in Manilla."
So while Ali is gone, he indirectly grew the pipeline that would blossom into the boxing stars of today and tomorrow.
"He brought a different swag to the game as far as being yourself," rising undefeated lightweight Robert Easter Jr., the son of a pro fighter, told Paste BN Sports. "That's what you really learn from Ali: being yourself, being you, in front of the camera and behind the camera.
"He was a hell of a character wherever he was at. Just watching him in the ring, his ring smarts, his IQ and his courage, especially against Sonny Liston. Just being a young up-and-comer, he stepped to the game and told people what he was going to do and knocked him out and made fun of him after.
"Foreman was knocking out everybody, and it's hard to have to the courage to step up and execute a game plan that plays into your favor. I think that's what fighters fail to realize: who they're doing it for. You gotta fight for your legacy and put a blueprint for the game. We're trying to be one of the greatest as well. He made me a believer. He was one of the greats and I think I can go down as one of the greatest as well if I put in the hard work. He sure did."
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