Muhammad Ali's legacy a complicated one for opponents he defeated

Muhammad Ali’s spirit has left this world, but the world will never forget his spirit.

Ali died Friday night at age 74, but before he passed he left a mark with not only fans and the media, but his opponents. And for the latter, not just physical ones. For opponents, the "sting like a bee" part of his persona wasn't limited just to the jabs and uppercuts that helped make him a legend. That also described how his taunts left them feeling decades later.

After defeating Sonny Liston to claim the heavyweight title in 1964, Ali, who was born Cassius Clay, defended his new title against former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. Patterson said in a 1989 interview that Ali’s bravado initially…