Angelo Dundee, who was arguably the most famous boxing trainer in history, died at the age of 90 at home in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 1. Dundee recently celebrated the 70^th birthday of his long-time friend and most famous fighter, Muhammad Ali, on Jan 14. Dundee’s death represents the end of an era in boxing as he was one of the oldest and most-respected trainers to have ever worked a corner.

Jimmy Dundee said his father was surrounded by family members when he passed away and is glad his dad had the chance to reminisce with Ali before he died. Dundee said his father suffered a blood clot a week before he died and was treated in hospital for it before being allowed to return home to his apartment. He added that his father was having trouble breathing the day he died and family members rushed to his home to spend the last few hours with him.

Dundee was also the trainer and motivator of several other huge boxing stars such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Willie Pastrano, George Foreman, Jose Napoles, and Carmen Basilio. Dundee was one of the most liked and respected men in boxing and always had a smile on his face and a joke on his tongue.

He’ll always be best remembered as being Ali’s trainer though since he guided the former heavyweight champion throughout his professional career. Dundee was more than just a corner man. He often motivated his fighters when they were in trouble during bouts, such as Ali in his first fight with Sonny Liston and Leonard during his first showdown with Tommy Hearns.

Promoter Bob Arum was planning on bringing Dundee and Ali together again on Feb. 18 for a charity gala event in Las Vegas. Arum said Dundee was boxing’s greatest motivator, no matter what the situation was and that’s why Ali loved him so much. During his six-decade career which took him around the world, Dundee trained 15 world champions and was honored by the sport for his magnificent corner work and training efforts in 1992 by being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Dundee first met Ali back in 1959 in the fighter’s hometown of Louisville, Ky. Dundee was training Pastrano at the time and Ali, who was then named Cassius Clay and was a Golden Gloves champion, phoned Dundee’s hotel room and asked if he could come up and visit the trainer and Pastrano. Ali ended up talking boxing with the pair for over three hours.

Ali then won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy and ran into Dundee again in Louisville. Dundee asked Ali if he’d like to head down to Miami Beach to train with him at the legendary 5^th Street Gym, but Ali said he couldn’t. However, a few months later one of Ali’s team members called Dundee to see if he’d work with Ali and that was the start of one of boxing’s most famous partnerships. Dundee guided Ali to the heavyweight title in February 1964 against Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

Dundee, who was born in Philadelphia, always stood by Ali when the boxer was going through tough times with the black Muslims and the government for refusing induction into the army. Dundee was loyal to Ali and never tried to persuade him on his religious and  political views and Ali said that’s the reason he loved his trainer.

There was always boxing in Dundee’s blood. His older brother Chris was a promoter and his brother Joe was a boxer. Angelo followed Chris to New York after the second World war and that’s where he got his feet wet in the sport. By the late 1940s he was handling cuts and tape hands in boxer’s corners and helping out trainers such as Ray Arcel and Charlie Goldman.

Just before Ali retired, Dundee started training Leonard and also trained Foreman for his title-winning fight against Michael Moorer in 1994. The 45-year-old Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history that night with his last-round knockout over Moorer. Dundee will be sorely missed in the boxing game, but stories of his antics and training expertise will never die.

It was a terrible week for boxing. Along with Dundee, famed trainer 88-year-old Goody Petronelli, 63-year-old referee Wayne Kelly, and 21-year-old flyweight boxer Karlo Maquinto all passed away.

Even though his boxing career ended more than three decades ago, the cheers of “Ali, Ali” still ring in the Greatest’s ears every time he makes a public appearance. Muhammad Ali, who turned 70 years old on Jan 17, may be stricken with Parkinson’s disease and gets around by wheelchair today, but he’s still got the same energetic fighting spirit that he always had.

Everything that needs to be said and written about the great heavyweight champion has already been done. History hasn’t changed at all and the icon, formerly known as Cassius Clay, will go down in it as one of the most remarkable people to walk the face of the earth, as well as being one of its most recognizable. He inspired thousands of young men to become boxers and is still doing so today.

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis wrote a letter to a British newspaper on Ali’s birthday calling him not only the greatest boxer to ever grace a ring, but the best ever sportsman and athlete. Lewis said he studied all of history’s best boxers while growing up, and came to the decision early on in life that Ali was the most brilliant of them all.

Lewis said Ali put boxing on the map and promoted it globally by fighting all over the world and by fighting quite often, even in exhibition matches, to help build up the sport’s popularity. He also said Ali had a huge impact on society as a whole, not just in the sports world. He was just as popular outside of the ring as he was in it.

There’s not really any need to retell the story of Ali’s career, from an Olympic gold medalist to heavyweight champion of the world unless you’re relatively young. And if you don’t know who Ali is and what he’s accomplished in his 70 years then it’s highly recommended that you check out a few You Tube videos and read several articles on his remarkable life.

His triumphs in the ring were always accomplished on the world stage. When Ali fought, millions of eyes were watching and millions of ears from America to Timbuktu were listening to every punch he threw and every punch he ducked. But Ali transcended sport. His boxing career represents just a fraction of what Ali stands for. He was stripped of his title and suspended from the sport for three years after refusing induction into the U.S. Army and stood up for what he believed was right, even if it meant he had to go to prison and give up his career.

Ali’s birthday predictably launched debates around the world as to if he truly was the greatest boxer ever. Some people say his record of 56-5 with 37 Kos shows he lost five fights. It’s true, but he lost three of his last four bouts before retiring. All five of his losses came to men who were at one time in their careers the heavyweight champion of the world. These were Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick. He avenged his losses to Frazier, Norton, and Spinks, and beat both Frazier and Norton twice. However, he was at the end of his career when losing to Holmes and Berbick in his last two fights.

There are thousands of Ali stories to be told and with five parties planned to celebrate his birthday, including television specials and documentaries, we’ll get the chance to hear many of them. But even though it’s more subdued these days, Ali’s amazing journey continues. And the world’s a better place because of it.

Former world boxing champion Muhammad Ali may not be in the greatest of health, but he’s at home and doing fine after recent internet rumors suggested he was in critical condition. Boxing has lost former heavyweights Joe Frazier and Ron Lyle in recent weeks and fans feared Ali might be joining them after reports circulated online that he was rushed to hospital shortly after attending Frazier’s November funeral in Philadelphia.

There’s no hiding the fact that Ali’s quite fragile and frail and has a hard time moving around, but that can be expected for suffers of Parkinson’s Syndrome, which is what Ali has been for almost 30 years now. He may no longer float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, but he still possesses a quick mind and sharp wit.

The 69-year-old, who once owned the most recognizable face in the world, was in fact taken to hospital five days after Frazier’s funeral service as he lost consciousness at home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. An ambulance was called via 911 and to take Ali to hospital about 7 pm on Nov. 19, but when it arrived he had already left.

Ali’s spokesman Craig Bankey said he was taken to hospital to receive treatment for dehydration and that most of the initial news reports were basically blown out of proportion. However, he didn’t say how long the former champ was in hospital for.

Because the public rarely sees Ali anymore, it has to rely on statements from his inner circle to find out what his state of health is. Some reports last year indicated that he traveled to Israel to receive adult stem treatments in an attempt to help fight off the effects of Parkinson’s. One thing’s for sure, Ali is receiving the best care money can buy.

He is looked after by Dr. Mahlon DeLong, who is a neurology professor at Atlanta’s Emory University and is recognized as one of the world’s top neuroscientists. He’s also won several awards for his efforts concerning Parkinson’s disease along with and other types of movement disorders.

The last time Ali’s health made the headlines was six years ago. Laila Ali, his daughter, said he was deteriorating back in November 2005 just before he met George W. Bush to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Just a week later Ali’s wife Lonnie denied those reports though and said he was doing fine. Gene Kilroy, a long time friend and associate of Ali, said he thought Ali’s condition at Frazier’s funeral was consistent with his state of the past few years and wasn’t any worse or better.

The next time Ali may be seen in public will likely be early in 2012 when he celebrates his 70^th birthday. An all-star gala has been scheduled at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand for Feb. 18 to celebrate his Jan. 17^th birthday and to raise money for medical research. Kilroy added that Ali’s just as popular as ever and he’s received messages from across the globe from people hoping to be a part of the celebration.

Boxing lost another one of its former heavyweight greats on Nov. 26 when Ron Lyle died in a Denver hospital at the age of 70. Lyle, like Joe Frazier, who also passed away recently, was known for his bouts in the 1970s against the likes of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Lyle was admitted to hospital on Nov. 18 after complaining of pains in his stomach. He died just over a week later when his stomach abscess suddenly became septic.

Lyle was one of 19 children and grew up in Denver. However, he had problems with the law while growing up and was convicted of second-degree murder when he was 19 years old after shooting a rival gang member. Lyle said he was attacked by the victim with a lead pipe and he didn’t fire the gun that killed him. He was offered a lighter sentence if he talked, but he would never reveal the name of the man who pulled the trigger and served seven and a half years in prison. His life almost ended while serving his sentence as he was viciously stabbed by a fellow inmate, but managed to pull through.

Although he was an excellent basketball player growing up, he decided to learn how to box while in prison. Lyle won a national amateur title after he was released and turned pro when he was 29 years old, winning his first fight in 1971 by a second-round knockout. Lyle’s parents were very religious and he felt he had let them down and broken their hearts by being involved in the gangland killing. After his mother traveled through a snowstorm to visit him in prison one day he decided he would become the world’s heavyweight champion to make her proud.

Lyle fought in what was arguably heavyweight boxing’s greatest era in the 1970s. He took on the likes of Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, and Jimmy Young by 1975 and then got a shot at Ali on May 16 in Las Vegas for Ali’s WBA and WBC heavyweight titles. Lyle fought exceptionally well, but Ali finally caught up with him in the 11^th round and beat him by a TKO. One judge had the fight scored a draw at the time of the stoppage while another had Lyle ahead by a point and the third had Lyle up by six points.

Lyle was back in the ring four months later to face the heavy-hitting Earnie Shavers. Lyle was decked in the second round, but came back to stop Shavers in the sixth. His next fight, against Foreman in January of 1976, was the most memorable of his career and one of the best in boxing history. The two men slugged it out from the opening bell and Lyle dropped Foreman in the fourth round. Foreman got up and then dropped Lyle. But just before the bell rang, Foreman was back on the canvas again after Lyle rallied. Both men continued trading power shots in the fifth round and Foreman finished the classic fight off with a KO.

More trouble with the law followed in 1978 when Lyle again killed a man. This time he was found not guilty by self defense after killing a former inmate who attacked him in his home. He retired from boxing in 1980 after being knocked out in the first round by Gerry Cooney. Fifteen years went by before Lyle decided to box again and in 1995 he made a comeback. He won all four of his comeback bouts by knockout against mediocre opposition and then retired for good later that same year. And the end of his career, Lyle’s record stood at 43-7-1, with 31 wins coming by knockout.

Lyle spent the last few years of his life coaching youngsters, including Victor Ortiz for a brief period, at a Salvation Army center in Denver. He was inducted into the Colorado Golden Gloves Hall of Fame in March.

Those who truly appreciate the sport of boxing often find themselves cheering for anybody in the ring who displays a combination of skill, heart, and determination, no matter who it is. Sure, everybody has their favorite fighters, but it’s very rare that boxing fans find themselves “hating” anybody. Many boxing fans find themselves being supporters of both combatants during a fight.

I realized this when ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier was about to take on Muhammad Ali back on March 8, 1971. I loved Ali, but couldn’t for the life of me think of anything negative to say about Frazier. Who could? This was a guy who by today’s standards would be one of the smallest heavyweights around. At 5-foot-10 and 210 lbs, he didn’t strike fear in his opponents until the bell rang to start the fight.

Before the ‘Fight of the Century’ boxing fans were divided when it came to picking a winner. Many fans thought Ali’s three years in exile had robbed him of his prime while others figured he had just too much skill and speed for the plodding Frazier. But one of the biggest parts of the equation was heart. Frazier and Ali both possessed a fascinating determination and will to survive.

Back in those days most big fights were broadcast on closed-circuit television cards at local arenas and theaters. I remember the fans being almost as entertaining as the fight when debates raged on and on throughout the crowd of about 3,000 during the intermission. All over the rink you could see grown men acting out what they thought was going to take place in the ring. The Ali shuffle could be made out in the dark shadows along with leaping left hooks, which were being demonstrated by Frazier fans.

Needless to say, the bout was one of the best in heavyweight history and both men lived up to the pre-fight hype. Unfortunately, one of them had to lose and this time it was Ali’s turn, courtesy of a sledgehammer of a left hook that Frazier landed in the 15^th and final round. Ali, showing the heart of a lion, was up just as quick as he hit the deck, but this was the icing on the cake in Frazier’s unanimous decision.

I was disappointed Ali had lost, but realized I’d witnessed something special that night. I knew Frazier was an excellent boxer having won the Olympic Gold Medal in Tokyo in 1964, but didn’t realize he was that good. Of course, Ali and Frazier went at it again twice more in the following years with Ali taking both fights. The third act of the trilogy, 1975’s ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ was arguably the most fascinating match in boxing history as both men stood toe-to-toe for 14 punishing rounds before Frazier’s trainer Eddie Futch stopped the fight.

But at the time, Ali’s words hurt Frazier more than any of his pinpoint punches ever could. Unknowingly, Ali’s tongue cut right through ‘Smokin’ Joe’s heart and scarred him psychologically for many years afterwards. Frazier considered himself to be Ali’s friend and lent him money and support while Ali was trying to regain his boxing license after refusing induction into the U.S. Army. But once the contracts had been signed before their first fight Frazier couldn’t understand why Ali was belittling and ridiculing him while trying to promote the battle. He felt betrayed and didn’t realize it was just Ali’s nature.

While many boxers didn’t care what Ali called them, Frazier was more sensitive. It wasn’t until a few decades later until he finally came to terms with it and forgave Ali. However, Ali’s love and respect for his nemesis could easily be seen when he referred to him simply as “Joe.” There were numerous occasions when Ali and Frazier were together and like old friends, joked and argued about their times together in the ring. I always remember Ali addressing Frazier as Joe. Many of the old photographs also show the mutual respect they shared.

Frazier enjoyed an excellent career by taking on the best heavyweights of his era, which arguably was the best era ever for the big men. He lost a few fights along the way, but when Frazier hit the deck you could bet the house he’d try to get to his feet. The most memorable instances of this came against George Foreman since Frazier was decked a total of seven times in his two losses to him.

‘Smokin’ Joe compiled a professional record of 32-4-1 with 27 KOs and held the world heavyweight title for three years from February 1970 to January 1973. He defended it four times before losing it to Foreman. He was well known around the world due to his epic battles with Ali and his Olympic triumph. Frazier also fought in Jamaica, England, and Australia.

When Frazier died at the age of 67 on Nov. 7 boxing lost one of its greatest gladiators. He was tough, relentless, and determined. But most of all he had a heart of gold. When Frazier lost his battle against liver cancer, not a bad word was spoken or written about him. The true measure of the man was that nobody said a bad word about him while he was living either.