Muhammad Ali — His Final Photos & Resting Place

The brutal life-or-death battle being waged by Muhammad Ali came to an end on June 3, 2016 — but these final portraits show him proudly posing even after losing his speech! British photographer Zenon Texeira captured these moving portraits of the former world champion at his home in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 14th, 2016, as Ali is seen raising his fists for the last time ever!

Proud to the end, the boxing legend, 74, stares defiantly into the camera lens — although the images also show the devastating effects that Parkinson's took on his body. In fact, the champ was “a prisoner in his own body,” said pal Gene Kilroy.

"He can just about walk," said Gene during his friend's final days, "and his speech is slurred. It takes a huge effort for him to make the simplest communication now. But when he does, every word is worthwhile."

“Even now," added Gene, "he has no fear. He says, ‘I’ll stay here as long as God wants me to. When my time comes. I’ll have no regrets.’”

The self-described “Greatest of All Time” was diagnosed in 1984 with Parkinson’s disease. He passed away as the world agreed with the boxer's famous proclamation. A longstanding family feud also came to a temporary truce as Ali's funeral was planned — with this plot in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., set to be his final resting place.

Gene noted that Ali was also thinking of his fallen rivals toward the end of his life. In 2015, said Gene, Ali had asked his friend to place a message at a memorial statue of fellow boxer Joe Frazier. It read: “Joe Frazier, rest in peace until we meet again. But next time, we’re not going to fight — we're just going to hug!"