By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
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SS Mirza, AFP, Getty ImagesTOPSHOT - Pakistani women light candles as they pay respects to boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Multan on June 4, 2016. Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a 20th Century icon whose fame transcended sport during a remarkable career that spanned three decades, died on June 3, his family said. / AFP PHOTO / SS MIRZASS MIRZA/AFP/Getty Images
Gene J. Puskar, APLos Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, right, and bench coach Dino Ebel (21) pause for a moment of silence at PNC Park in memory of Muhammad Ali before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, June 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Eduardo Soteras, AFP, Getty ImagesYoungsters train at the "Muhammad Ali's head high" ("La Tete Haute de Mohamed Ali") Boxing Club in Kinshasa on June 4, 2016. The club is located at the Tata Raphael Stadium of Kinshasa, the place where the historic boxing event "Rumble in the Jungle" took place between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman the 30th of October of 1974. / AFP PHOTO / EDUARDO SOTERASEDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP/Getty Images
Aaron P. Bernstein, Getty ImagesLOUISVILLE, KY - JUNE 4: Mourners gather at a memorial following the death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali outside the Muhammad Ali Center June 4, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali died at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
Timothy D. Easley, APFrank Green, of Louisville, Ky., kneels to pray at a memorial for Muhammad Ali at the Muhammad Ali Center, Saturday, June 4, 2016 in Louisville Ky. Ali, the magnificent heavyweight champion whose fast fists and irrepressible personality transcended sports and captivated the world, has died according to a statement released by his family Friday, June 3. He was 74. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Manuel Balce Ceneta, APRabiah Ahmed, center, of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, speaks as U.S. Muslim leaders honor the legacy of Muhammad Ali's during a news conference at Masjid Muhammad, The Nation's Mosque, in Washington, Saturday, June 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
David McNew, Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 04: Eric Obeng, attending university in the U.S. from Ghana, poses for a friend while paying respect to the late Muhammad Ali at his star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 4, 2016 in Hollywood, United States. His is the only Walk of Fame star that is mounted on a wall instead of the sidewalk because in his faith, the name Muhammad is considered sacred and not to be stepped on. Muhammad Ali died last night at the age of 74. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Bullit Marquez, AP PhotoPeople look at the huge billboard heralding the epic 1975 "Thrilla In Manila" heavyweight boxing bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at the exact venue 40 years ago at the Araneta Coliseum which is now renamed as Smart Araneta Coliseum at Cubao Saturday, June 4, 2016 in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Ali, the magnificent heavyweight champion whose fast fists and irrepressible personality transcended sports and captivated the world, died according to a statement released Friday by his family. He was 74. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Matt York, AP PhotoMuhammad Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell speaks to the media regarding the funeral arrangements for Ali, Saturday, June 4, 2016, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The former heavyweight boxing champion passed away Friday. He was 74. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Michael B. Thomas, AFP, Getty ImagesA makeshift memorial is seen outside the childhood home of boxing legend Muhammad Ali on June 4, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. From the White House to Kinshasa and Uzbekistan they remembered on Saturday a sporting and cultural icon, saying there would never be another one like Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest". Ali died June 3. He was 74. / AFP PHOTO / Michael B. ThomasMICHAEL B. THOMAS/AFP/Getty Images
Nelson Almeid, AFP, Getty ImagesItems left by people paying homage to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who passed away on the eve, on June 4, 2016 in front of the Scottsdale Healthcare Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he died. Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali, an icon of the 20th Century whose fame transcended the sport during a remarkable career that spanned three decades, died on June 3, his family said. / AFP PHOTO / NELSON ALMEIDANELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP, Getty ImagesJapanese parliamentarian and mixed martial artist Antonio Inoki, who fought boxing begend Muhammad Ali during a celebrated exhibition match in 1976, speaks at a press conference following the news of the death of Ali, at a hotel in Tokyo on June 4, 2016. Ali, a 20th Century icon whose fame transcended sport during a remarkable career that spanned three decades, died on June 3, his family said. / AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
Michael B. Thomas, AFP, Getty ImagesVisitors line up to visit and pay respects the Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum on June 4, 2016 in Louisville, KY. From the White House to Kinshasa and Uzbekistan they remembered on Saturday a sporting and cultural icon, saying there would never be another one like Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest". Ali died June 3. He was 74. / AFP PHOTO / Michael B. ThomasMICHAEL B. THOMAS/AFP/Getty Images
Michael B. Thomas, AFP, Getty ImagesRachmon Ali (L), brother of boxing great Muhammad Ali, greets visitors and well wishers outside the Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum on June 4, 2016 in Louisville, KY. From the White House to Kinshasa and Uzbekistan the world remembered on Saturday a sporting and cultural icon, saying there would never be another one like Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest". Ali died June 3. He was 74. / AFP PHOTO / Michael B. ThomasMICHAEL B. THOMAS/AFP/Getty Images
Brendan Smialowski, AFP, Getty ImagesA mural with the image of boxing legend Muhammad Ali is seen on June 4, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali, the three-time world heavyweight champion and colorful civil rights activist whose fame transcended the world of sports and made him an iconic figure of the 20th century, died June 3 at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Julie Jacobson, AP PhotoA man approaches the Apollo Theater to check the box office schedule, Saturday, June 4, 2016, in New York. The theater marquee carried a tribute to former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali who died Friday at age 74. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
SS Mirza, AFP, Getty Images
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TOPSHOT - Pakistani women light candles as they pay respects to boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Multan on June 4, 2016.
Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a 20th Century icon whose fame transcended sport during a remarkable career that spanned three decades, died on June 3, his family said.
/ AFP PHOTO / SS MIRZASS MIRZA/AFP/Getty Images
ExpandHe was fast of fist and foot — lip, too — a heavyweight champion who promised to shock the world and did. He floated. He stung. Mostly he thrilled, even after the punches had taken their toll and his voice barely rose above a whisper.
He was The Greatest.
Muhammad Ali died Friday at age 74, according to a spokesman for his family. He was hospitalized in the Phoenix area with respiratory problems earlier this week, and his children had flown in from around the country. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell said Ali, who had Parkinson’s disease, died of septic shock. While it’s not clear exactly what transpired with Ali, people with late-stage Parkinson’s often have difficulty swallowing. Food and liquid landing in the lungs can lead to pneumonia or a chest infection that could cause sepsis, a bloodstream infection.
