---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the…"
description: "\"I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.\" — Andy Ruiz Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg"
---

#  I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the…

![“I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.” quote by Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg)

> “I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.”

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A tribute to Muhammad Ali's unparalleled skill and legacy, acknowledging his status as the preeminent boxer in history.

**In simple terms:** Ali's greatness is unmatched.

Key Takeaway

Ali set the benchmark for boxing excellence.

Themes

legacy excellence humility sportsmanship inspiration

Mood

respectful admiring

Type

celebratory historical

When to use this quote

- sports commentary
- motivational speeches
- training gyms
- historical retrospectives

Key Concepts

boxing cultural impact role model

Practical Applications

- highlighting elite performance
- inspiring athletes

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines greatness in sports?
- How does a champion's legacy influence future generations?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [To me, Muhammad Ali, he was the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/to-me-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest/)

[Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/)

> [There's never been a boxer better than Joe Louis. You'd take one shot from him and you were sure he'd have seven or eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/there-s-never-been-a-boxer-better-than-joe-louis-you-d-take-one-shot/)

[George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/)

> [Muhammad Ali was the greatest of all time. But what made him even greater was what he did outside the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/muhammad-ali-was-the-greatest-of-all-time-but-what-made-him-even/)

[Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/)

> [You could be the greatest, You could be the best, You can beat the world, You can beat the war, You can talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/you-could-be-the-greatest-you-could-be-the-best-you-can-beat-the/)

[Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/)

> [He is at no end of his actions blestWhose ends will make him greatest, and not best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/he-is-at-no-end-of-his-actions-blestwhose-ends-will-make-him-greatest/)

[George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/)

> [We all ended up jumping up and down, hugging each other when Ali won; cause Ali is the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-capaldi/we-all-ended-up-jumping-up-and-down-hugging-each-other-when-ali-won/)

[Jim Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-capaldi/)

> [In fifty years of covering the sport, of course Muhammad Ali is by far the dominant figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/in-fifty-years-of-covering-the-sport-of-course-muhammad-ali-is-by-far/)

[Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/)

> [One of my favourite fighters to watch ever, and of course before I was a ring announcer, was Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/one-of-my-favourite-fighters-to-watch-ever-and-of-course-before-i-was/)

[Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/)

> [I've been many times to Dubai and the U.A.E., and I have friends that live there. It would be exciting to stage world heavyweight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/i-ve-been-many-times-to-dubai-and-the-u-a-e-and-i-have-friends-that/)

[Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/)

> [I was taught to fighter like Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-was-taught-to-fighter-like-sugar-ray-leonard-and-muhammad-ali-when/)

[Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/)

> [I wanted to get in the ring and be like Muhammad Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-canino/i-wanted-to-get-in-the-ring-and-be-like-muhammad-ali/)

[Bonnie Canino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-canino/)

> [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/)

[Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/)

> [If I could've made Muhammad Ali smaller I would have fought him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-martinez/if-i-could-ve-made-muhammad-ali-smaller-i-would-have-fought-him/)

[Sergio Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-martinez/)

> [And I remember leaving my place in L.A. and - my father is a big fight fan - and I said, 'Dad, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/and-i-remember-leaving-my-place-in-l-a-and-my-father-is-a-big-fight/)

[Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/)

> [No cares about the Muhammad Ali trophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/no-cares-about-the-muhammad-ali-trophy/)

[Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/)

## More by Andy Ruiz Jr

> [The hard-working Mexican tries to get up here looking for opportunities because America's one of the greatest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/the-hard-working-mexican-tries-to-get-up-here-looking-for/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [I have two friends, who have died from this boxing game, and it scares me, but I feel I was made for this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-have-two-friends-who-have-died-from-this-boxing-game-and-it-scares/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [You pick your destiny or maybe destiny picks you. But it picked me to box, definitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/you-pick-your-destiny-or-maybe-destiny-picks-you-but-it-picked-me-to/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [All fighters put their lives on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/all-fighters-put-their-lives-on-the-line/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [Everyone has a plan until they get hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/everyone-has-a-plan-until-they-get-hit/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [Don't even bring Drake around me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/don-t-even-bring-drake-around-me/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [I just have to do what I have to do, and just let my hands go and focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-just-have-to-do-what-i-have-to-do-and-just-let-my-hands-go-and-focus/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [I feel unfinished business with the WBO title because that was my first loss when I went to New Zealand with Joseph Parker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-feel-unfinished-business-with-the-wbo-title-because-that-was-my/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [A lot of stuff, all the fast food, the cheap food, the dollar menu - I had to cut all that off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/a-lot-of-stuff-all-the-fast-food-the-cheap-food-the-dollar-menu-i-had/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [It took a long time, and a lot of years, for me to get comfortable with myself, like the way I am now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/it-took-a-long-time-and-a-lot-of-years-for-me-to-get-comfortable-with/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [The physique will show in the punches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/the-physique-will-show-in-the-punches/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [I'm willing to die in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-m-willing-to-die-in-the-ring/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [I'm ready for Anthony Joshua. Hopefully he's overlooking me, thinking I'll be a piece of cake. It's a whole different ballgame when they're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-m-ready-for-anthony-joshua-hopefully-he-s-overlooking-me-thinking-i/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [I never look past an opponent that I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-never-look-past-an-opponent-that-i-have/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [When I was a boy, my parents would buy me a new toy and I would destroy it. Oh man, I would destroy it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/when-i-was-a-boy-my-parents-would-buy-me-a-new-toy-and-i-would/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

[Explore all 99 Andy Ruiz Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

## More Best quotes

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/)

[Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/)

> [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

Gene Scott

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

Browse all 21,674 Best quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andy Ruiz Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest-he-was-the-best/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest-he-was-the-best/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/andy-ruiz-jr-6216_best_i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greate_43249.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I respect Muhammad Ali... he was the greatest, he was the best.” — Andy Ruiz Jr",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andy Ruiz Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I respect Muhammad Ali... he was...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest-he-was-the-best/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/i-respect-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest-he-was-the-best/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
