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Knockout Punch Heard in Rome This is the hard right thrown by Cassius Clay (right) of Louisville, Ky., that knocked out Henry Cooper of Memphis, Tenn., in first day of Olympic Boxing Trial Finals at the San Francisco Cow Palace Wednesday night. U.S. Olympic team chosen will go to Rome. 1960 Credit: AP

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 20--HEADED FOR A FALL--Heavyweight LaMar Clark sinks to the canvas after Cassius Clay landed a knockdown punch in the first round of their fight here last night. Clay, former Olympic champ, remained unbeaten in six pro fights by knocking out Clark in 1:28 of the second round of their scheduled eight round bout. 1961 Credit: AP

Rock 'n' Roll in the Ring Alex Miteff stiffens shortly before hitting the canvas under furious attack by Cassius Clay. The Argentinian signaled the referee he was unable to continue their nationally televised Louisville, Ky., fight and Clay was awarded a sixth-round technical knockout. 1961 Credit: AP

Young heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay points to a sign he wrote on a chalk board in his dressing room before his fight against Archie Moore in Los Angeles, in this Nov. 15, 1962, file photo predicting he'd knock Moore out in the fourth round, which he went on to do. The sign also predicts Clay will be the next champ via a knockout over Sonny Liston in eight rounds. A new book, "Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali the First Heavyweight Champion of Rap," proclaims Ali's verbal barrage was more than self-promotion, but sowed the seeds of hip-hop, which came into being in the `70s. (AP Photo/Harold P. Matosian/FILE)

Cassius Clay weighs in a 204 pounds today for his 12-round heavyweight fight in Los Angeles tonight against Archie Moore, who came in at 197 pounds. Adjusting scales is Clayton Frye, secretary of the California Athletic Commission. 1962. Credit: AP

Cassius Clay (right) lands on Don Warner's jaw in an early exchange of their fight tonight with a straight right--the same punch which knocked Warner through the ropes in Round 4 and headed him for a technical knockout as the fight was stopped soon after he climbed back to the canvas. 1962 Credit: AP

LOS ANGELES, Nov.15, 1962--HEADED FOR THE CANVAS--Toppled by a barrage of lefts and rights, Archie Moore starts his second trip to the canvas in the fourth round of his scheduled 12-rounder against Cassius Clay in Los Angeles tonight. When he went down for the third time referee Tommy Hart stopped the fight at one minute and 35 seconds. Credit: AP

LOS ANGELES, Nov.15, 1962--END OF THE LINE FOR ARCHIE--Down on one knee, Archie Moore reaches the end of his gallant ring career in Los Angeles tonight as young Cassius Clay stands over him, winner by a technical knockout in the fourth round of a scheduled 12-round fight. Moore went down three times before the referee, Tommy Hart, ended the fight. Credit: AP

Alejandro Lavorante, Argentine heavyweight, lends a helping hand to Clayton Frye, secretary of the California Athletic Commission, as he weighs Cassius Clay of Louisville, Ky., for their 10-round fight in the Los Angeles Sports Arena tonight. Clay weighed 199 pounds to Lavorante's 208. 1962. Credit: AP

Cassius Clay, heavyweight boxing challenger, (left) and Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals, (right) receive awards at the annual B'nai B'rith sports dinner in Boston tonight. Making the awards is Horace McMohn, star of the television show, 'Naked City.' 1962. Credit: AP

Challenger Cassius Clay is shown in rare form as he signed to meet heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston, in this Nov. 6, 1963 file photo. A new book, "Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali the First Heavyweight Champion of Rap," proclaims Ali's verbal barrage was more than self-promotion, but sowed the seeds of hip-hop, which came into being in the `70s. (AP Photo/stf/FILE)

Muhammad Ali. (GNS Photo)

After a night of making Denver, and Sonny Liston in particular, aware of his presence. Cassius Clay and troupe found accommodations at the Albany Hotel. The Denver Post caught him in bed Tuesday morning asking for the time of day and telling hotel employees what a great night he had Monday on the Liston home's front lawn. 1963 Denver Post Library photo archive

Cassius Clay, brash young heavyweight, holds up six fingers to denote the round in which he expects to demolish Doug Jones when they tangle in Madison Square Garden Wednesday. Clay arrived in New York from Miami where he spent much of his time needling Sonny Liston. Jones' response to Clay's latest poems. "What did he say?" 1963. Denver Post Library photo archive

MUHAMMAD ALI, 1963. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali boxing, 1963. Denver post Library Archive

MUHAMMAD ALI, 1963. Denver Post Library photo archive

One Good Turn Deserves Another Cassius Clay was the winner by a unanimous decision over Doug Jones in Wednesday night's fight in New York, but it wasn't all one-sided. In top photos, Jones was on the receiving end of a couple of hard Clay punches, but got his turn in the bottom picture. Clay rallied in the final two rounds to get 18th win in unbeaten string. 1963. Credit: AP

Challenger Cassius Clay pokes a fast left jab to the face of Sonny Liston during their championship heavyweight fight in Miami Beach, Fla. tonight. Clay used the in and out tactics to gain a TKO in the seventh round after Liston strained a shoulder and suffered a bad gash under the left eye. 1964 AP Wirephoto

Cassius Clay, left, bangs a right to the face of Sonny Liston during heavyweight championship fight in Miami Beach, Fla. tonight. Liston, suffering a cut left eye and a strained shoulder, lost his crown on a seventh round. 1964 AP Wirephoto

Cassius Clay (left) was his usual brash self at Tuesday's weigh-in for his fight with heavyweight champion Sonny Liston Tuesday night at Miami Beach. But even the fact Clay was slapped a $2,500 fine for his antics couldn't force a smile on glowering Liston (right). The champ weighed in at 218, while challenger Clay scaled 210 1/2. MIAMI BEACH, Fla., 1964 AP Wirephoto

Challenger Cassius Clay pokes a fast left jab to the face of Sonny Liston during their championship heavyweight fight in Miami Beach, Fla. tonight. Clay used the in and out tactics to gain a TKO in the seventh round after Liston strained a shoulder and suffered a bad gash under the left eye. 1964 AP Wirephoto

Cassius Clay, left, bangs a right to the face of Sonny Liston during heavyweight championship fight in Miami Beach, Fla. tonight. Liston, suffering a cut left eye and a strained shoulder, lost his crown on a seventh round. 1964 AP Wirephoto

Muhammad Ali, who'll fight heavyweight champ Sonny Liston on February 25, clowns a bit with the Beatles at his training camp in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1964. The Beatles are, from left: Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb.25, 1964--HIT AND RUN--Challenger Cassius Clay pokes a fast left jab to the face of Sonny Liston during their championship heavyweight fight in Miami Beach, Fla. Clay used the in and out tactics to gain a TKO in the seventh round after Liston strained a shoulder and suffered a bad gash under the left eye. Credit: AP

It wasn't all Clay, though, despite the fact he claimed the title in one of boxing's biggest upsets. Clay took his share of punches as shown in this fifth-round action as a right hand smash by Liston turns his head. Liston had decided edge in round. 1964. Denver post Library Archive

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb. 25--THE WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION--Cassius Clay raises both hands as handlers enter the ring after he was declared world champion of the heavyweight ranks in Miami Beach, Fla. tonight. Clay stopped champion Sonny Liston after six rounds. 1964 Credit: AP

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb. 25, 1964--THE LIP HAS HIS SAY--Never for a loss of words, Cassius Clay answers questions during news conference after his technical knockout win over world heavyweight champ Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Fla. At Clay's left is a handler, Drew Brown. Credit: AP

MIAMI BEACH, FLA, Feb. 25, 1964--DOCTOR SAYS CLAY SCARED TO DEATH--Challenger Cassius Clay makes a loud shout as Dr. Alexander Robbins, right, finishes his examination of Clay. After examining Clay at the weigh-in-today Dr. Robbins said, "This is a man who is scared to death. He is living in mortal fear." Clay meets heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in a title fight in Miami Beach. Credit: AP

NEW YORK, March 1, 1964 --Cassius Clay, the new world heavyweight boxing champion, signs autograph outside a downtown New York newsreel theater today as Black Muslim leader Malcolm X stands alongside. They had just watched a screening of film on Clay's title fight with Sonny Liston at Miami Beach, Fla., Credit: AP

Cassius Clay makes like a loud mouth after being declared heavyweight champion of the world at Miami Beach, Fla. tonight. The talkative Clay stopped champion Sonny Liston after six rounds in one of the greatest upsets in fight history. 1964. Credit: AP

CASSIUS CLAY, Heavyweight champ admits wide-open mouth makes statue look like him. 1964. Credit: AP

MUHAMMAD Ali, 1964. Denver Post Library photo archive

Cassius Clay, the new Heavyweight champion after defeating Sonny Liston last night, gives his version of the fight at a press conference here this morning. The champion was in a much more relaxed mood than yesterday when he almost broke up the weigh in ceremonies with a shouting and fist-waving demonstration. 1964. Credit: AP

MUHAMMAD ALI, 1964. Denver Post Library photo archive

Cassius Clay punches the heavy bag in one of his daily workouts at Miami Beach for the Feb. 25 championship bout with heavyweight Sonny Liston. 1964. Credit: AP

Heavyweight challenger Cassius Clay lets out a howl as he steps to the box office today to buy tickets for his Tuesday night fight with champion Sonny Liston. Prices are sealed from $250 for ringside seats down to $20 for the cheapest seats. 1964. Credit: AP

Clay Begins Buildup For 2nd Liston Bout NEW YORK, Sept.17--A BELT FOR THE CHAMP--World heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay poses wearing the 24-carat gold plated championship belt presented him in New York. Clay predicted a long reign on the boxing throne for himself and eventual retirement as "the undefeated, untarnished and still the prettiest" heavyweight champion of them all. The belt was presented by Ring Magazine in whose office the ceremony took place. 1964. Credit: AP

MUHAMMAD ALI , 1964 Denver Post Library photo archive

Floyd Patterson shoots a straight right but champion Cassius Clay ducks back and takes blow on shoulder in their heavyweight title fight at Las Vegas. Clay got in almost all effective punches to win by a TKO in the 12th round. 1965. Credit: AP

CLAY MOVES TOWARD THE KILL--Heavyweight champion Cassius Clay moves in with a series of smashes to the face of challenger Floyd Patterson in the sixth round of their title fight at Las Vegas, Nev., 1965. Clay, suspected by some observers of "carrying" Patterson much of the time, turns vicious in the sixth round as he tries to put the challenger away. Here he smashes a hard right to the face of the grimacing challenger. Patterson hit deck a moment later. Credit: AP

PUNISHMENT FOR THE CHALLENGER--Heavyweight challenger Floyd Patterson takes a smash to the midsection as champion Cassius Clay throws full leverage into the blow in the 10th round of last night's title fight. Patterson took a severe beating and lost on a 12th round technical knockout. (AP Wirephoto) 1965 But the blows didn't always go to the head. The battered Patterson tries to pull in his belly to take some of the impact off Clay's solid right to the midsection during a 10th-round flurry. By this time Clay was making a punching bag of the challenger. Credit: AP

LEWISTON, MAINE: Referee Joe Walcott guides heavyweight champion Cassius Clay to a neutral corner after Clay downed challenger Sonny Liston (struggling to his feet) in the first round of their championship bout here May 25th., 1965. Clay retained his crown by scoring a one-minute knockout victory over Liston in the controversial fight. Denver Post Library photo archive

LEWISTON, Me., May 25--VICTORY DANCE--Heavyweight champion Cassius Clay, arms upraised, begins his victory dance around challenger Sonny Liston after he cut short their scheduled 15-round title bout by knocking him out in one minute of the first round. Referee Joe Walcott waves his arm ending the bout. 1965. Credit: AP

Floyd Patterson appears groggy with his knees about to go under as champion Cassius Clay whips another sweeping blast to his face a moment before their heavyweight title fight was stopped at Las Vegas, Nev., 1965. Referee Harry Krause stepped in to call a 12th round technical knockout. Credit: AP

CLAY LANDS A SMASH--Champion Cassius Clay lands a right smash to the jaw of challenger Floyd Patterson in the seventh round of their title fight at Las Vegas, Nev. (AP Wirephoto) 1965 Heavyweight champion Cassius Clay lands a hard right tot he face of challenger Floyd Patterson in the seventh round of title fight in Las Vegas on Nov. 22. Clay gave Patterson a severe beating before fight was stopped in the 12th. Clay was still at it in the seventh round, pouring a barrage of blows to Patterson's head. This one makes the challenger's eyes roll and it's obvious he's in more than a little pain. Credit: AP

JUST ABOUT OVER-The heavyweight champion, one Cassius Clay, glowers at challenger Sonny Liston who lies stretched out on canvas in first and only round of a title bout. Clay won on a KO. Liston is stretched out on the deck after taking a right-hand punch from Clay. The knockout at one minute of the first round was the shortest ever recorded in a heavy-weight championship fight. The crowd in the Lewiston, Maine arena screamed "fake, fake, fake" when it was announced the former champ had been kayoed. 1965 Credit: AP

NEW YORK, JAN. 18--DEMPSEY'S FIST MAKES AN IMPRESSION ON CLAY--Heavyweight champion Cassius Clay may not only be acting when he looks with amazement at the fist of former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. The two posed at Boxing Writers Association's annual dinner in New York last night. Clay told the group that more white hopes would cure boxing ills and that with more white hopes like Dempsey and Gene Tunney around he could draw a $30 million gate fighting them. 1965. Credit: AP

MIAMI, FLA., Mar.9--CASSIUS WILL TAKE ALL THREE AND QUIT--Cassius Clay said at a news conference, he wants to fight Ernest Terrell, Floyd Patterson and George Chuvalo in a single night and them retire from the ring. He said "a man in my tax bracket can't afford to fight more than once a year. I want to get them all out of the way at once, so I can retire." 1965 Credit: AP

MUHAMMAD ALI, 1966. Denver Post Library photo archive

Cassius Clay (left) grimaces as he takes a left to the body from Canada's George Chuvalo midway in their 15-round bout in Toronto Tuesday night. Clay boasted later that this proved he could take a body punch. Clay won a unanimous decision. 1966. Credit: AP

Right On The Button -- Heavyweight Champion Cassius Clay connects with a right to the face of Challenger Cleveland Williams in the second round of their championship fight in Houston tonight. This blow sent Williams to the canvas for the third time in the round. Williams was saved by the bell but Referee Harry Kessler halted the fight in the third round. 1966. Credit: AP

Heavyweight champion Cassius Clay tells dressing room crowd. "My plan for the fight was to punch--and you saw it," after he defeated challenger Cleveland Williams on a technical knockout in Houston's Astrodome tonight. Clay also credited his 'Ali shuffle' for aiding him in downing Williams four times in the three round fight. 1966. Credit: AP

Muhammad Ali, 1966. Denver Post Library photo archive

Archie Moore and Muhammad Ali . Denver Post Library photo archive

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, left center, talks to the media in Louisville, Ky., after conferring with civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, right center, regarding the boxer's draft status in this March 29, 1967 file photo. Ali was in his hometown for his court suit to prevent his Army induction April 28 in Houston. Later, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund represented Ali when the high court struck down his conviction for refusing to serve in the military. (AP Photo)

Muhammad Ali hits a hard right to Jerry Quarry during their fight Oct. 26, 1970, in Atlanta, Ga. The fight was stopped after the third round and Ali was declared the winner. Quarry, a popular heavyweight who fought Ali and Floyd Patterson then eventually lapsed into a punch-drunk fog, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999 in Templeton, Calif. after being taken off life support. He was 53. (AP Photo/File)

Heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali makes a point during a news conference that he conducts from inside the ring in Atlanta, Ga., in this Oct. 24, 1970, file photo. A new book, "Ali Rap: Muhammad Ali the First Heavyweight Champion of Rap," proclaims Ali's verbal barrage was more than self-promotion, but sowed the seeds of hip-hop, which came into being in the `70s. (AP Photo/FILE)

In this March 8, 1971, file photo, Muhammad Ali. right, takes a left from Joe Frazier during the 15th round of their heavyweight title boxing bout in New York. Frazier won a unanimous decision. Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday Nov. 7, 2011 after a brief fight with liver cancer. He was 67. (AP Photo/File)

Boxer Muhammad Ali, left, stands with Karate instructor George Dillman in this 1971 file photo at Ali's training camp in Deer Lake, Pa. Dillman has purchased the six acre parcel that Ali called 'Fighters Haven' and is turning it into a bed and breakfast.(AP Photo/Kim Dillman)

Muhammad Ali Often chops down as many trees as he can in 15 minutes. 1972. Credit: The Denver Post

Muhammad Ali grimaces as ken Norton connects with a left the chin during their 12-round heavyweight bout at the sports arena in San Diego , Calif. Ali lost on a split decision. 1971. Denver Post Library photo archive

Chuvalo Scores With A Left - George Chuvalo, Canadian heavyweight champion, connects with a left to the head of Muhammad Ali, former heavyweight champion in action in the first round of their scheduled 12-round fight at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum Monday night. 1972. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali, former world heavyweight boxing champion, toys with the finely combed hair of television sports commentator Howard Cosell before the start of the Olympic boxing trials, August 7, 1972, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joe Caneva)

Muhammad Ali (R) , seems to be holding Ken Norton up in a corner in the fifth round of their return match at the forum. Ali won the match in a split decision making it 1 and 1. 1973. Denver Post Library photo archive

A mean looking Muhammad Ali throws a left to the head of a ducking Ken Norton during the first round of a return match between Norton and Ali in what is being billed as the “Battle of the Broken Jaw.” 1973. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali scores with a hard right to the head of Ken Norton. The former heavyweight champion wiped out the stain of a broken Jaw upset loss to ken Norton 5 ½ months ago by scoring a split decision in the 12-round rematch. 1973. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali delivers a vicious right chop to the head of ken Norton 9/10. Ali, the former heavyweight champion came back to win a split decision in the 12-round rematch. Ali was defeated 5 ½ months ago by Norton in San Diego. 1973. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali scores with a solid right to the head of ken Norton as he goes on to win a split decision. Ali was defeated 5½ months ago by Norton in San Diego when he broke the jaw of Ali. 1973. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali crashes a right to the side of Ken Norton’s head during a middle round of their 12-round re-match at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., 1973. Denver Post Library photo archive

Trevor Berbick, left, and Muhammad Ali seem to have an equal reach as they slug it out during a Friday night boxing match in this Dec. 12, 1981 file photo in Nassau, Bahamas. Berbick, who lost his heavyweight title to Mike Tyson and was the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali, was found dead Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006, in a church courtyard in Kingston, Jamaica, police said. He was 52. (AP Photo)

Ali wins Back The Crown--George Foreman Falls toward the canvas as his defense of the world heavy weight title ends in an eighth-round knockout by Muhammad Ali Oct. 30 in Kinshasa, Zaire. 1974. Credit: AP Wirephoto

Zaire admirers grab the arm of Muhammad Ali when he stopped in downtown Kinshasa during his sightseeing tout Tuesday morning. 1974. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali throws a punch at Joe Frazier, right, during their bout at Madison Square Garden in New York, Jan. 28, 1974. Ali's hometown of Louisville is ready to unveil a museum celebrating the life of one of the 20th century's most recognizable figures. The Muhammad Ali Center is to open Nov. 21,2005, chronicling the life of "The Greatest" inside and outside the ring, emphasizing his peaceful values and vision of global tolerance, and setting the record straight about that infamous gold medal. (AP Photo/File)

Muhammad Ali October 9, 1974.(AP Photo)

Angela Davis With Muhammad Ali in 1974. Denver post Library Archive

Challenger Muhammad Ali is directed to a neutral corner by referee Zack Clayton after knocking down George Foreman and ending their title fight in the eighth round, in Kinshasa, Zaire, in this Oct. 29, 1974 photo. (AP Photo/File)

Muhammad Ali throws a punch at Joe Frazier, right, during their bout at Madison Square Garden in New York, Jan. 28, 1974. Ali's hometown of Louisville is ready to unveil a museum celebrating the life of one of the 20th century's most recognizable figures. The Muhammad Ali Center is to open Nov. 21,2005, chronicling the life of "The Greatest" inside and outside the ring, emphasizing his peaceful values and vision of global tolerance, and setting the record straight about that infamous gold medal. (AP Photo/File)

Muhammad Ali hits Ron Lyle with a hard right to the chin during action in their title fight in Las Vegas. Ali won the fight with a TKO in the 11th round. (AP Wirephoto/ May 16, 1975)

In this Oct. 1, 1975 file photo, spray flies from the head of challenger Joe Frazier, left, as heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali connects with a right in the ninth round of their title fight in Manila, Philippines.(AP Photo/Mitsunori Chigita, File)

Muhammad Ali's eighth-round knockout victory over George Foreman will be shown on home television for the first time. 1974

MUHAMMAD ALI, 1974. Denver Post Library photo archive

Flip Wilson with Muhammad Ali in 1975. Denver Post Library photo archive

Who's The Real Fisticuffs Man?--Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, left, and Muhammad Ali, world heavyweight box champion, mockingly glare at each, other as they compare fists during a press conference in New York Monday. Stabler and Ali were among 33 athletes in different fields selected by sportswriters for the third annual Gillette Cavalcade of Champions Awards. Sports fan across the country will vote to select the outstanding athletes of the year from the ballot and the results were be announced on NBC. 1975 Credit: AP Wirephoto

World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali shouts "Joe Bugner must go!" to Malaysian fans during a training session at a Kuala Lumpur stadium, June 15, 1975. Ali defends his title against Britain's European champion Joe Bugner on July 1. (AP Photo)

No Way Out--Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali keeps challenger Jimmy Young up against the ropes during their championship fight at Landover Friday. Ali won a unanimous decision in fifteen rounds. 1976. Credit: AP Wirephoto

What is this-a roast or a beating? Ruth Buzzi attacks Muhammad Ali, left, with her purse as host Dean Martin tries to rescue the heavyweight champion, in an NBC roast 1976. Howard Cosell, right, joins the fun, along with Freddie Prinze, Gene Kelly, Wilt Chamberlain, Floyd Patterson and Orson Welles. 1976. Denver post Library Archive

Exchanging JABS - Muhammad Ali, right, delivers a jab to the face of Ron Lyle during an exchange of punches in the first round to their title fight in Las Vegas Friday night. 1975. Denver post Library Archive

Professional wrestler Freddy Blassie, right, is shown tangling with boxing legend Muhammad Ali while filming a promotion at an arena in Philadelphia on June 1, 1976. (AP Photo/File)

Ali Connects--Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali connects with a left to the face of Jimmy Young during their championship bout at Landover Friday. Ali won a unanimous decision in fifteen rounds. 1976. Credit: AP Wirephoto

His back against the ring ropes , Muhammad Ali continues to taunt Ken Norton during their heavyweight title bout 9/28/1976. Denver Post Library photo archive

Muhammad Ali drives a right to the head of Ken Norton in the second round of their heavyweight title bout 9/28/76. Denver Post Library photo archive

Hyping Next Title Defense -- Muhammad Ali, the world heavyweight champion, left, strains to stare down a grimacing Leon Spinks, the Olympic heavyweight champion, during a news conference Thursday to promote their Feb. 15 title bout in Las Vegas. It was announced Thursday that Ali has signed a $12 million contract to defend his championship next September against Ken Norton. 1977. Credit: AP Laserphoto

Embracing The Champ -- Muhammad Ali embraces heavyweight champion Leon Spinks during a news conference in New Orleans where they signed to fight Sept. 15, in the Superdome. Ali was giving the champion a few pointers on dealing with the press. 1978. Credit: AP Laserphoto

A Blow To Ali -- Leon Spinks connects with a right hook to Muhammad Ali during the late rounds of their championship fight in Las Vegas, Nev. Wednesday night. The 24-year-old Spinks won the bout in a 15-round decision. 1978. Credit: AP Laserphoto

Muhammad All and Leon Spinks exchange punches during their WBA heavyweight title bout at the Superdome in New Orleans Friday night Ali became the first man to win the heavyweight crown times by defeating Spinks with a 15-round unanimous decision. 1978 Credit: AP Laserphoto

(l. to r.) Cheryl Tiegs, Muhammad Ali, and David Hartman Program: "Good Morning America" 1978. Credit: ABC

GaryColeman with Muhammad Ali in 1979. Denver post Library Archive

Muhammad Ali and Lyle Alzado promote their Exhibition fight. 1979. Credit: Denver Post