More than 60 years ago, a bicycle thief in Louisville, Kentucky, unknowingly sets in motion one of the most amazing sports careers in history. An angry 12-year-old Cassius Clay goes to a policeman on that day in 1954, vowing he would find the thief who took his bike and have his revenge.

The following is a quick look at five fights that defined the career of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Mohammad Giasuddin, the 12-year-old boy who had 'knocked out' Muhammad Ali during the boxer's maiden Bangladesh visit in 1978, says he is shocked and extremely saddened to hear the news of the legend's death.

Muhammad Ali entertained the world for more than half a century with his legendary one-liners, witticisms and diatribes. BBC Sport rounds up some of the greatest utterings of 'The Greatest', ranging from boxing to politics to religion.

Muhammad Ali was, at his peak, arguably the most famous man on the planet. His prodigious boxing talent was matched only by a towering self-belief.

Ever since Muhammad Ali's historic visit to Bangladesh 37 years ago, there has been this occasional speculation in local media as to what happened to the piece of land in Cox's Bazar which was promised to the legendary boxer.

37 years ago on February 18, Muhammad Ali, the “greatest heavyweight boxer ever,” came to Bangladesh along with his wife for a five-day visit. During the visit, wherever Ali went, he was greeted wholeheartedly by tens of thousands of fans.

The most exciting part of Muhammad Ali's sojourn in Bangladesh was probably the mock fight against a young boy at the Dhaka Stadium. Even though Ali took the fight as yet another stage to entertain the crowd and those watching on TV, it meant a lot to that young boy.

Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a family spokesman has said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion, one of the world's best-known sportsmen, had been in hospital in the US city of Phoenix in Arizona state.

For Muhammad Ali, 1974 was a big year. That year he fought an epic fight against George Foreman for the Heavyweight Champion title that was taken away from him in 1967. The fight was known as The Rumble in the Jungle.