Muhammad Ali's legendary trainer Angelo Dundee dies

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Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee has died in Florida aged 90.

Dundee, famous for working alongside Muhammad Ali for 20 years, is reported to have had a heart attack after being taken to hospital with a blood clot.

He guided Ali through his greatest fights including the "The Rumble in the Jungle" against George Foreman in 1974.

His son Jimmy Dundee said: "Thankfully, the whole family was with him. We have lost a great man. My dad led a wonderful life."

Dundee's name was synonymous with Ali's but he worked with 15 world champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and Jimmy Ellis.

But it was his partnership with Ali which became one of the most successful in boxing history.

Dundee, born in Philadelphia, met up with Ali after his Olympic gold medal success in Rome in 1960 and helped him win his first heavyweight title against Sonny Liston in 1964.
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“Angelo was the greatest motivator of all time. No matter how bad things were, Angelo always put a positive spin on them”

Bob Arum Boxing promoter

He assisted Ali to three heavyweight titles and travelled to Zaire to take on Foreman, and to the Philippines for the "Thrilla in Manila" against Joe Frazier.

Dundee was instrumental in Ali's victory over Henry Cooper in London in 1963 . Cooper downed Ali - then called Cassius Clay - but was saved by the bell.

The trainer then made a tear in one of his fighter's gloves, delaying the start of the next round while Ali regained his senses and went on to win in the next round.

Dundee attended Ali's 70th birthday party last month and promoter Bob Arum said he had been planning to bring him to Las Vegas on 18 February for a charity gala headlined by Ali.

"He was wonderful. He was the whole package," Arum said. "Angelo was the greatest motivator of all time. No matter how bad things were, Angelo always put a positive spin on them. That's what Ali loved so much about him."

Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

He is survived by a son and daughter, six grandchildren and a great grandchild.

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RIP Another legend of boxing
 
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