It seemed as if the world stopped spinning June 3, when Muhammad Ali passed away.

The prayers and consoling messages came pouring in, in hopes of reaching the family of a man that had touched so many others.

Now that you have been laid to rest Ali, I would like to talk about how much you meant to me as a young child and even now as an adult on his way into this cruel yet beautiful world.

You have reached so many through many different ways. You were the first autobiography I ever read and I feel like I’ve known you all my life.

In this note to you, I would like to talk about the three reasons why you are truly the greatest.

Reason 1: Ali, The Fighter

Cocky, brash, confident and arrogant.

These were the many things you were called on your rise to stardom.

Similar to an actor in Hollywood, Ali knew how to get a reaction from the crowd and steal the show while doing it.

Not many liked it, in fact many hated it, but that never detoured you from your belief in yourself.

The Greatest, The People’s Champion and the Louisville Lip you were all those things and then some.

Whether people liked it or not you were more than that as you continued to back it up in between the ropes.

“I am the greatest, I said that before I knew I was,” Ali said at a young age.

Little did many expect, he wasn’t too far from the truth, in fact he was spot on.

Ali compiled a professional record of 56-5 with 37 knockouts, including going 22-3 in title bouts.

He captured three world titles, was named RING Magazine’s Fighter of the Year five times, was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Century and was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

He even won a gold medal in 1960 but threw it into the Ohio River as a result of being denied service because of his skin color.

He put on classic matches that will live for generations such as George Foreman, Sonny Liston (twice) and Joe Frazier (three times).

You were the epitome of confidence coining the slogan, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit, what his eyes can’t see.”

Reason 2: Ali, The Philanthropist

Courageous, activist and revolutionary.

These were some of the things that you showcased throughout your countless battles against injustice in the world.

Originally born with the name Cassius Clay, he was eager to find his own footing in this world.

Enter, Muhammad Ali. A name that meant praised one and noble.

After being mentored by Elijah Muhammad. Ali decided to make the name change and start a different path in life.

Ali once said, “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

Despite many people not respecting his wishes by calling him Clay well into 1970s, he stood his ground and let everyone understand that disrespect was not going to be tolerated.

April 28, 1967, Ali refused to be inducted into the Vietnam War because of his religious background and was stripped of his World Heavyweight Title and banned from the sport of boxing.

Additionally, he was fined $10,000.

Fortunately, due to a loophole he was able to fight again and in 1971 the Supreme Court reversed the original decision in 1967.

Upon returning to the sport he captured the world title two additional times.

Vastly, approaching the end of his career, Ali lost three of his final four matches before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological disorder whose symptoms include muscle tremors and slowness of speech.

Even in the face of what most would consider another defeat, Ali stood right in the face of adversity as he did many times before, vowing to not let it beat him.

“God gave me Parkinson’s syndrome to show me I’m not ‘The Greatest’ – he is,” Ali said after his diagnosis.

In 1996, Ali graced the world in his charismatic way once more by carrying the Olympic torch and lighting the cauldron in Atlanta, Georgia.

During the ceremony, Ali was given a replacement medal to make up for the one he had tossed into the Ohio River 36 years prior.

In 2005, Ali received the highest honor a United States President can give, the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his dedication to world peace.

Reason 3: Ali, The Greatest

There are thousands of words I can use to describe you and what you meant to me as well as many others.

You are the only person worthy of being remembered by just three letters, A-L-I.

The only two words left to sum up what you meant to me is what you aspired to be, “The Greatest.”