George Foreman has described Muhammad Ali as "the greatest" following the boxing legend's death earlier today.

The three-time world heavyweight champion was taken to hospital with respiratory problems earlier this week and passed away in the early hours on Saturday morning aged 74.

One of Ali's most famous bouts came against Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle', which Ali won against the odds, and the pair went on to forge a close friendship.

"Muhammad Ali made you love him. If you dislike him you wanted more than anything to see him again so you could dislike him again," Foreman told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Beauty is how you would describe him. Muhammad Ali was what I call beautiful. The man was the greatest. Forget about boxing, he was one of the greatest men to appear on television, to appear in the media - he was the greatest."

Ali's funeral will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.