Tributes pour in as world mourns death of Muhammad Ali

As news broke of boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s death Friday night, civil rights leaders, athletes, friends and President Barack Obama shared how they were moved by him.

Though Ali may have been one of the most recognized athletes on the planet, winning an Olympic gold medal and three heavyweight titles, it was his charisma and penchant for self-promotion that captivated the world.

Ali, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease later in life, died in Phoenix, Arizona of respiratory problems at age 74.

Professional boxer Mike Tyson and former boxer George Foreman were among the first to react online with tweets.

God came for his champion. So long great one. @MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #RIP pic.twitter.com/jhXyqOuabi

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) June 4, 2016

Ralph Ali, Frazier & Foreman we were 1 guy. A part of me slipped away, “The greatest piece” https://t.co/xVKOc9qtub

— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016

Then one came from former boxer Oscar De La Hoya, followed by an Instagram post from boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Today my heart goes out to a pioneer, a true legend, and a hero by all means! Not a day went by entering the gym that I didn’t think of you. Your charisma, your charm and above all, your class are all of the elements that will be greatly missed by myself and the world. You are someone that inspired me greatly throughout my boxing journey and words cannot express how great you were as a person! Thank you for everything you’ve done for Black America, in the the world of sports & entertainment and for the legacy you leave behind! My sincerest condolences to the Ali family!

A photo posted by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Jun 4, 2016 at 12:00am PDT

Cleveland Cavaliers basketball star LeBron James told ESPN that Ali’s achievements as an athlete came second.

“When I was a kid, I was amazed by what Ali did in the ring,” LeBron told ESPN. “As I got older and started to read about him and watch things about him, I started to realize what he did in the ring was secondary to what he meant outside of the ring — just his influence, what he stood for.”

Civil rights activists such as Rev. Jesse Jackson wrote in a tweet that “when champions win, they ride on people’s shoulders,” but that when Ali won, “WE rode on HIS shoulders.”

When champions win, they ride on the people’s shoulders.When @MuhammadAli won, WE rode on HIS shoulders. #HERO #RIP pic.twitter.com/isKnAgewYK

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) June 4, 2016

Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., tweeted, “You were a champion in so many ways. You ‘fought’ well. Rest well.”

Thank you, #MuhammadAli. You were a champion in so many ways. You 'fought' well. Rest well. pic.twitter.com/TSrzdQg1y4

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) June 4, 2016

Other celebrities posted pictures they had taken with him, including Oprah Winfrey and Madonna.

What is going on??!! We are losing all of our National Treasures. Our Pillars of Humanity. He was the Greatest! 💘 pic.twitter.com/tk6MfTcN2N

— Madonna (@Madonna) June 4, 2016

President Barack Obama, who keeps a pair of Ali’s boxing gloves under a photograph of the champion in his private study of the Oval Office, likened Ali to the civil rights leaders of his era.

“He wasn’t perfect, of course. For all his magic in the ring, he could be careless with his words, and full of contradictions as his faith evolved,” Obama said in a statement with first lady Michelle Obama. “But his wonderful, infectious, even innocent spirit ultimately won him more fans than foes – maybe because in him, we hoped to see something of ourselves.”