He recorded an album of spoken verse.
Ali was literally boxing’s poet laureate, composing witty verses in which he used to taunt opponents and praise himself. His iambic pentameter became so popular that Columbia Records released a spoken word album called “I Am the Greatest” in 1963 in which the 21-year-old rising star performed his poetry, backed by musical accompaniment. The album also included two songs by the boxer, including an exceptional cover of the Ben E. King hit “Stand by Me.”
10 astonishing facts about Muhammad Ali you probably didn’t know
