The man who shook up the world

The combination of a magnetising physical presence and a personality that was uniquely captivating made Muhammad Ali one of a kind

Fist pump: perhaps the most famous photograph of Ali, standing over Liston during first round knockout of Sonny Liston in May 1965NEIL LEIFER

It is pretty much incontestable that at the height of his fame as the most compelling figure in the history of sport, and self-appointed master of ceremonies to mankind, Muhammad Ali was the most widely recognised human being on the planet. No contemporary political figure, however influential or notorious, impinged on the consciousness of so many people. Nor did the most celebrated film stars or popular entertainers.

When the Beatles met up with him on their tour of America early in 1964, he was still two or three weeks away from the sensational defeat of Sonny Liston that made him
The Times