BOXING legend Muhammad Ali has died aged 74.

Tributes from the sporting world and beyond have poured in since a family spokesman made the announcement about the former boxer, who had battled Parkinson's disease for 32 years.

Bolton boxer Amir Khan has led the tributes in Bolton.

He said: "It is extremely sad to witness the passing of boxing's greatest fighter and icon Muhammad Ali.

"I would like to send my deepest condolences and thoughts to his family at this time.

"No fighter or sportsman will ever reach the level of Muhammad Ali, whose name will continue to echo through the ages.

" Inspiring, charismatic, a true legend - Ali will never be forgotten.

"Having the chance to meet the great man will be a memory and privilege I will always hold dear to me - an incredible human being, fighter and role model.

“Thank you Muhammad for inspiring us all."

Amir posted on Twitter “RIP. The Greatest of All Time” along with a picture of him with the three time heavyweight champion.

In a video on the site he added: "It is a very sad day today for boxing,losing one of the greatest fighters of all time Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali was the quickest heavy weight and the best heavy weight in my opinion.

"He was my hero."

Fellow boxer Tyson Fury tweeted: “RIP the greatest of all times in many different ways.”

TV personality Vernon Kay posted a picture of the boxer on his timeline.

Muhammad Ali had been admitted to hospital earlier in the week with a respiratory condition.

Family spokesman Bob Gunnell announced Ali's death in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday evening local time.

Mr Gunnell said: "The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support and asks for privacy at this time.”

Ali's funeral will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, with a date to be announced.

Few will be disputing Ali's moniker of 'The Greatest'.

Cassius Clay was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 14, 1942. He was first persuaded into his local boxing gym by a policeman, Joe Martin, who found the eight-year-old distraught and bent on revenge against a boy who had stolen his bicycle.

That policeman's decision would lead to the discovery of a fighter who transcended the sport.

Ali became a household name by winning gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the heavyweight division.

He soon turned professional and, f ighting under his original name of Clay, he made his debut in October 1960 with a sixth-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker in his home city of Louisville. After 15 straight wins he pulled off a notable stoppage of fading former light-heavyweight champion Archie Moore in November 1962.

In 1964, after rising off the floor to beat Henry Cooper in London, Clay stunned the ogreish and seemingly invincible Sonny Liston with a seventh-round win at Miami Beach to win the world heavyweight title.

It was the beginning of a 16-year odyssey which would see him become the first man in history to win the world heavyweight title three times and would take his remarkable road-show to all corners of an enraptured globe.

Popularity, however, was slow in coming. The public did not take so kindly to the new champion's brash and boastful antics, not least when he announced he had joined the Black Muslim movement of Malcolm X and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Fights outside the ring continued apace too.

He fought race wars, was stripped of his world title for refusing to fight in the US war in Vietnam and lost his boxing license for close to four years as a result.

His three years of exile may have robbed the world of Ali at his peak but he would go on to win the hearts of fight fans.

The first loss of his professional career - to Joe Frazier - was dubbed 'The Fight of the Century' - although he got his title back with a victory over George Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle' in 1974.

"He was the greatest," Foreman said on BBC 5 Live. "If you dislike him you wanted more than anything to see him again so you could dislike him again.

"Muhammad Ali made you love him."

Other all-time great fights followed, such as the 'Thrilla in Manila' when he stopped Frazier after 14 arduous rounds.

In the end, he called time in 1981 with a record of 56 wins from 61 fights and with a worldwide following of fans.

Parkinson's disease was diagnosed soon after but he did not shy away from the spotlight, lighting the torch at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

His daughter, Laila Ali, shared a touching photo on social media and thanked fans for their support.

The 38-year-old posted on her official Facebook page: "I love this photo of my father and my daughter Sydney when she was a baby!

"Thanks for all the love and well wishes. I feel your love and appreciate it!!"

The reach of Ali went well beyond his sport.

As the news spread, personalities from boxing and elsewhere reacted with sadness.

Prime Minister David Cameron hailed Ali as "a champion of civil rights" while Eddie Hearn, promoter of current heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, said: "The Greatest has passed. You shook up the world."