Fifty years ago today, Muhammad Ali (known at the time as Cassius Clay) became heavyweight champion of the world for the first time when he defeated Sonny Liston in Miami.

The 22-year-old entered the ring as a 7-1 shot, but a shock occurred in the seventh round when Liston threw in the towel.

It was a result that acted as the springboard for a glittering career, which Ali further enhanced with a host of famous quotes. Below, Sports Mole has picked out 10 of his most memorable musings.

"I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale, only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick. I'm so mean I make medicine sick."

"If you dream of beating me, you'd better wake up and apologise."

"I always bring out the best in men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one hell of a man and God bless him."

"Floats like a butterfly, sting like a bee, his hands can't hit what his eyes can't see."

"I've seen George Foreman shadow boxing. And the shadow won."

"There is some fella in London named some Brian, Brian Clough. Some soccer player or something. I heard all the way in Indonesia that this fella talks too much. He says that there is another Muhammad Ali - there is just one Muhammad Ali. I'm the talker. Now Clough, I've had enough, stop it."

"People don't realise what they had until it's gone. Like President Kennedy, nobody like him. Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing."

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'."

"Inside of a ring or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong."

Earlier today, Ali also used his official Twitter account to post a message to his followers: