To the Greatest, Our wishes to you.

Did you know ? (Courtesy Wiki: Ali)

On March 24, 1975, Ali fought Chuck Wepner in Cleveland, a fight that was to inspire the Academy Award winning movie “Rocky”. Ironically, however, it was Ali’s opponent who provided the inspiration for history’s most famous fictional pugilist. Wepner was a journeyman fighter who had been earning his living as a liquor salesman and security guard. Wepner had been dubbed “The Bayonne Bleeder” and, although he was ranked, he was considered hapless. Wepner, however, trained for two months and although he lost on a technical knock-out, he survived all 15 rounds and even managed to knock Ali down with a body shot. Sylvester Stallone saw the match on television and the concept of Rocky Balboa — an unknown club fighter who goes 15 rounds with the heavyweight champion — was born. Heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, the character portrayed by Carl Weathers, was loosely based on Ali.

Some famous lines by Ali:

1. Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. Your hands can’t hit what your eyes can’t see.
2. Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.
3. It’s hard to be humble, when you’re as great as I am.
4. Eat your words! Eat your words! I am the greatest.
5. What’s my name, fool? What’s my name?