Boxing. Not a sport associated with intellectual discourse.

Muhammad Ali proved the rule. His rhymes and opinions have entertained us since the 1960s.

We've selected some of our favourites. Leave more in the Suggestions box below the text!



- Hey Floyd - I seen you! Someday I'm gonna whup you! Don't you forget, I am the greatest! (To Floyd Patterson at the 1960 Olympic Games.)

- Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up.

- Ain't no reason for me to kill nobody in the ring, unless they deserve it. (After fighting Jimmy Ellis,1971)

- Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, his hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. (Before fighting George Foreman, 1974)

- The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. (Playboy interview, 1975)

- What's my name, fool? What's my name? (During a 1967 fight with Ernie Terrell

- Joe Frazier is so ugly that when he cries, the tears turn around and go down the back of his head. (Before the 1971 Fight of the Century)

- It will be a killer, and a chiller, and a thriller, when I get the gorilla in Manila (Before the Thrilla in Manilla fight.)

- That all you got George? (During the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle, to George Foreman)

- I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark. (Before fighting George Foreman, 1974)

- It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.

- Superman don't need no seatbelt. (To an Air Stewardess when asked to buckle up. It is reported that she replied, Superman don't need no airplane.)

- I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I’m in a world of my own.

- I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me—black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.

- I’ll beat him so bad he’ll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.

- I outwit 'em, and I outhit 'em.

- Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace I'm gonna set except me. There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked.
- Never put your money against Cassius Clay, for you will never have a lucky day.

- If you like to lose your money, be a fool and bet on Sonny.
(Before fighting Sonny Liston, then the heavyweight champion)

- My face is so pretty, you don't see a scar, which proves I'm the king of the ring by far.

- Archie has been living off the fat of the land.
I'm here to give him his pension plan.
Folks, don't block the gate, don't close the door.
For you may all go home, after round four.
(Before his match against Archie Moore)