Legends may come and go, but it is highly that the title record of the great Bill Russell will be broken anytime soon. One of the most decorated athletes in sports entertainment, Russell was a prime feature of the NBA, and the unscathed Celtics dynasty in the 1950s and 60s. Did you know that once, Russell tried to knock out iconic boxer Muhammad Ali? Believe it or not, it’s true.

17th January 2022 marks what would’ve been the 80th birthday of the great Muhammad Ali. Widely nicknamed as ‘The Greatest’, he transformed how the world viewed the sport of boxing. A total one man wreckage, Ali destroyed anything and anyone in his path. Yet, Bill Russell tried his shot at knocking out the 1999 Sportsman of the Century award winner, way back in 1964. It was an iconic image for the ages.

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IMAGE: NBA legend Bill Russell fights Muhammad Ali

One of the defensive greats of the game, Bill Russell won 11 NBA Championships in 13 years. If that wasn’t enough, he also accumulated two rings as a coach. This is by far the best success ratio in the history of America’s top basketball league. Speaking of best success ratio, Ali’s 56 wins out of 61 bouts earned him tons of fans across the globe. So what went down when these two global stars collided?

As seen in the image, Russell and Ali met in 1964. In a hilarious image, the 12-time NBA All-star is throwing a jab at Muhammad. Two great friends, the photo was taken in Boston. It was just outside the Celtics legend’s restaurant – Slade’s Original Barbecue.

This is certainly one of the most iconic photos in recent history. On this day and every day, we miss the great Muhammad Ali. Both inside and outside the ring, he taught us all to fight our inner demons. As for Russell, he is a walking talking lesson on glory.

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