The three-time heavyweight champion, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1980s, passed away in Arizona surrounded by family.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a spokesman for his family has confirmed.
The three-time world heavyweight champion was diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease in 1984 - three years after he retired from the
sport.In the days before his death, Ali had been admitted to hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, suffering from respiratory issues.
Reports had suggested his breathing problems had been complicated by the neurological disorder, which had long impaired his speech.
Boxing stars past and present, including Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Amir Khan, are among those who have paid tribute to Ali.
Boxing manager Frank Warren told Sky News: "The world has lost an iconic figure. As a boxer, he was one of the greatest of all time.
"Not only that, but he crossed over into the mainstream and became bigger than sport. He was probably one of the most recognised people on the planet.
"Muhammad Ali probably paved the way for Barack Obama becoming President of the United States. He changed the whole concept of being black in America.
"What he did was phenomenal - what he did for boxing, what he did for his race, how he stood up against the war in Vietnam, how he stood up for civil rights and what he did around the world.
Former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion Chris Eubank described Ali as "a beacon" and "the man who did what everyone said he couldn't".
He told Sky News: "I'm the living embodiment of a person who stood on the shoulders of the giant that was Muhammad Ali.
"I am proud to say I am the pretender... because I have giants like Muhammad Ali to mould myself around."
:: 'I Am The Greatest': The Life Of Muhammad Ali
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