Remembering Ali: George Foreman on his greatest 'friend and enemy'

They were young then and, oh, so proud. Three magnificent gladiators on a collision course with history, they fought fearlessly, battling each other on the biggest stages and in the oddest places.

Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. The names roll off the tongue like they were made to be together.

They've been linked together now for nearly a half century, united by the special bond created when two men step into the ring. Enemies, rivals and sometimes friends, they fought in a golden era for heavyweights.

Ali and Foreman with actor Will Smith at the 1997 Oscars

When Foreman woke up yesterday, it was with the unsettling knowledge that he was the only one left.

"We were like one guy," Foreman said. "But this morning I realised that the greatest piece of us all was Muhammad Ali."

Ali, of course, was the greatest and the worst part of being muted by Parkinson's in his later years had to be that he couldn't keep telling his rivals that. Not that Foreman had to be told, because he was a convert ever since shortly after the night in Africa 42 years ago that changed everything.

Ali was supposed to be old, and he was supposed to be shot. It was going to be easy pickings for Foreman, a way to earn a big payday and get on with the business of fighting real fighters.

"I heard rumors Muhammad Ali was out of money and having a rough time," Foreman said. "If I took the fight with him he could make USD 5 million. I said that's good, I'll give him a chance to make a few bucks and kill him."

Foreman could afford to be charitable. He had knocked Frazier down six times in two rounds the year before, and stopped Ali's nemesis, Ken Norton, in the second round of his last fight.

When we were Kings for sure, Academy Awards My dearest friend and me pic.twitter.com/VwTfi5WLEg

— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016

Big and strong, he had never lost as a pro and was the most fearsome slugger around.

"I thought I could beat anybody," he said from his Houston home. "I devastated Frazier and Norton. I thought this would be the easiest fight of my life. I'd run all over him."

Ali had other plans in the early morning heat in Kinshasa, Zaire. He took Foreman's biggest punches early, taunting him all the way.

Hana Ali & the whole family, my heart goes out you. Muhammad Ali has been a fine man. That will never die. pic.twitter.com/3L5HK0zPCb

— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 4, 2016

"Is that all you got George?" Ali said after each punch landed.

"I knew I was in trouble," Foreman recalled. "I knew this was something different. I put everything I had into the third round and he was still standing.