How or why did Ali's "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" speech come into the public lexicon? Why is it not just a great moment in boxing like so many other speeches and statements before and after it?

by Mr_A

For example, the only boxing I've ever seen outside of clips at the end of the news were in Day of the Fight, Snatch and Raging Bull. I'm not even sure if I've seen the clip where Ali says the phrase, although I'm sure I probably saw a segment of it when I was younger.

My point is: I don't watch boxing. I don't care for it. I'm not interested by it. But somehow I've come to know this phrase. Why is it so popular and what made it cross over from the world of boxing and into the public consciousness.

Searocksandtrees

For reference, here are a couple of clips of Muhammad Ali saying his famous catch-phrase

  • An interview before a bout with Sonny Liston - quote at 2:00 - clip
  • Trash-talk poetry in the buildup to a bout with George Foreman - clip