Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is dead at the age of 74.

A family spokesman confirmed that Ali died Friday night at a Phoenix-area hospital where he was being treated for a respiratory issue that has been complicated by the Parkinson's he was diagnosed with in the 1980's.

A family spokesman said Ali will be buried in is hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Funeral plans will be made public on Saturday.

Known as the "The Greatest," Ali will be widely remembered for his unique skills in the ring and the values he exemplified out of it.

Born Cassius Clay, he officially changed his name to Ali after stunning the world by upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964 to win the heavyweight title at the age of 22.

Ali's most memorable fight may have been out of the ring when he refused to be inducted into the armed forces to fight in the Vietnam war.  (Metro Networks Inc.)

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