PHOTOS | Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday

2:01 PM, Jan 17, 2012   |    comments
  • Former heavyweight boxing champion and 1960 Olympic gold medalist Mohamed Ali lights the flame 19 July 1996 at the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta during the opening ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games. (OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Boxing legend Muhammad Ali (L) hugs actor Will Smith before the start of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Boxing great Muhammad Ali wears his credential during a ceremony honoring him with the 'Six Star Diamond Award' from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences before the AL baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 6, 2009 in New York, New York. (Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
  • Boxing legend Muhammad Ali salutes the crowd before the start of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Picture dated from the 60's of the U.S. boxing champion Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), who got the Olympic middle heavyweight gold meadal in 1960 in Rome, aged 18, and got the professional world heavyweight title for the first time in February 1964 against Sonny Liston. (AFP/Getty Images)
  • Former world heavyweight boxing champion and 1960 Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali (L) is congratulated by International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch after receiving a replacement gold medal for his 1960 win, at halftime of the gold medal basketball game between the US and Yugoslavia, 03 August 1996 in Atlanta. (TIM CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson (R) rubs heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali's shoulder as he says hello 01 April 1993 at a gathering of boxers for the World Boxing Council awards ceremony. (MARIA BASTONE/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Former world heavy-weight champion Muhammad Ali acknowledges the applause of the public while attending the men's Olympic final at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia, 04 Aug 1996. (OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Muhammad Ali (L) and singer Jacob Lusk attend Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XVII at JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on March 19, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
  • Heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali (L) and present heavyweight title-holder Evander Holyfield (R) talk at a reception before the Time Magazine 75th Anniversary celebration at Radio City Music Hall 03 March 1998 in New York. More than 90 Time cover subjects are attending the event along with a tribute by President Clinton. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali attends a news conference at the National Press Club on May 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. Ali and other prominent American Muslims and clergy appealed to Iran's Supreme Leader for the release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two U.S. hikers detained in Iran since July 31, 2009. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
  • Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali is assisted with drinking a glass of water after joining other prominent American Muslims and clergy attending a news conference at the National Press Club on May 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. Ali and other prominent American Muslims and clergy appealed to Iran's Supreme Leader for the release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two U.S. hikers detained in Iran since July 31, 2009. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
  • The hands of World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali are viewed as he attends a news conference at the National Press Club on May 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. ( Virginie Montet/AFP/Getty Images)
  • Muhammad Ali onstage during Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XVII at JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on March 19, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
  • US boxing champion Muhammad Ali receives 14 January 1998 the thanks of US sister Beltran in Casablanca, after the sister came from the Ivory Coast to take delivery of humanitarian aid brought by Ali for her mission. The former champion brought five tonnes of food, clothing, and medicine for the 'San Perdro' mission, which is helping Liberian refugees. During his 'spiritual' visit to Morocco, Ali is also due to participate in a religious symposium hosted by King Hassan II, which was scheduled to
  • Muhammad Ali attends Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XVII at JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on March 19, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
  • JOE FRAZIER, GEORGE FOREMAN AND MUHAMMAD ALI. ( Gray Mortimore/ALLSPORT)
  • Muhammad Ali (L) and Billy Crystal onstage during Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XVII at JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on March 19, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
  • World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali attends a news conference at the National Press Club on May 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. Ali and other prominent American Muslims and clergy appealed to Iran's Supreme Leader for the release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two U.S. hikers detained in Iran since July 31, 2009. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
  • World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali attends a news conference at the National Press Club on May 24, 2011 in Washington, DC. Ali and other prominent American Muslims and clergy appealed to Iran's Supreme Leader for the release Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two U.S. hikers detained in Iran since July 31, 2009. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
    
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As Muhammad Ali stood up and slowly raised his right hand to greet friends in celebration of his 70th birthday at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, last weekend his voice was silent. But the three-time heavyweight champion winked, smiled and engaged with those who came to support him. His 70th birthday on Tuesday represents a poignant milestone for a man once known for his speed, wit, grace and fearlessness.

PHOTOS | Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday