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Muhammad Ali Spars With the Stars

For the camera, celebrities always wanted to mix it up with the boxing legend

  • The Beatles and Muhammad Ali
    AP Photo

    Bop the Beatles, 1964

    Paul, John, Ringo and George absorb a shot the day before Ali, then named Cassius Clay, won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston.

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  • Wilt Chamberlain and Mohammed Ali
    Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

    ‘Timber,’ 1971

    A proposed boxing match between Ali and 7-foot 1-inch basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain fell through – but not before much posturing.

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  • John Kennedy Jr and Muhammed Ali
    Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

    John John Jabs, 1974

    John Kennedy Jr. lands one on Ali’s honker hours before “The Greatest” defeats Joe Frazier in a non-title fight.

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  • Stallone and Muhammad Ali
    AP Photo

    Rocky Road, 1977

    Sylvester Stallone (Rocky) and Ali (The Greatest) clown it up back stage after the Oscars awards.

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  • Muhammad Ali meets Vasily Alexeyev
    The Ring Magazine/Getty Images

    Heavy-Handed, 1978

    Olympic Russian weightlifter Vasily Alexeyev drops the hammer at Ali’s training camp.

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  • Kris Kristofferson and Muhammad Ali
    Jerry Watson/Camera Press/Redux

    Dynamic Duo, 1979

    Playing a former slave elected to the U.S. Senate, Ali starred with Kris Kristofferson in the TV miniseries Freedom Road.

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  • Diffrent Strokes and Muhammad Ali
    Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

    “What’chu Talkin’ ‘Bout, Ali?”, 1979

    Gary Coleman and Ali, who made a guest appearance on the TV show Diff'rent Strokes, have fun.

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  • Ronald Reagan and Muhammad Alie
    Reagan Library

    Take One for the Gipper, 1983

    President Ronald Reagan gives a poke in the Oval Office.

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  • Michael J Fox and Muhammad Ali
    Mark Wilson/Getty Images

    Common Cause, 2002

    Michael J. Fox and Ali appeal to a Senate subcommittee for more funding to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, which afflicted both of them.

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  • Muhammad Ali and Chris Rock
    Craig Ambrosio/Getty Images

    Rock On, 2003

    Ali and comedian Chris Rock ham it up at the launch party of the book GOAT: Greatest Of All Time,  A Tribute to Muhammad Ali.

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  • Celine Dion and Muhammad Ali
    M. Caulfield/WireImage for PMK/HBH/Getty Images

    Seeing Stars, 2004

    Singer Celine Dion lands one during Celebrity Fight Night X, an annual fund-raiser for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute.

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  • Matthew Peyton/Getty Images

    Sparring Partners, 2004

    Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Ali go at it backstage during an MTV programming promotion event.  

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  • Jesse Jackson and Muhammad Ali
    Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

    Good Sport, 2005

    The Rev. Jesse Jackson takes his turn at the 20th Annual Midsummer Night's Magic Awards Dinner in Los Angeles.

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  • Gloria Estefan, Muhammad Ali and Donna Summer
    M. Caulfield/WireImage for PMK/HBH/Getty Images

    In a Clinch, 2005

    Singers Gloria Estefan and Donna Summer mug with Ali at Celebrity Fight Night XI.

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  • Muhammad Ali and Robin Williams
    M. Caulfield/WireImage for PMK/HBH/Getty Images

    ‘Why, I Oughta … ’ 2006

    Robin Williams channels Popeye at Celebrity Fight Night XII.

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  • Jennifer Lopez and Muhammad Ali
    Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Fight Night

    In the Kisser, 2013

    Singer Jennifer Lopez throws an uppercut at the 2013 Celebrity Fight Night XIX. 

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Video: Lonnie Ali on Caregiving

The wife of Muhammad Ali shares the importance of having support, especially a good doctor or specialist.