Muhammad Ali's Legendary Trainer Angelo Dundee Dies

TAMPA, Fla. - Angelo Dundee, the cornerman who trained boxing legend Muhammad Ali, died Wednesday aged 90.

The International Hall of Fame member, who also honed the fighting skills of 14 other world champions, died in a Florida rehabilitation center where he was receiving treatment for a blood clot, his son James Dundee told the Los Angeles Times.

"[He] had a ball in life. He did everything he wanted to do. Lived life to the fullest," James Dundee said, adding that his father made an impression on everyone he had ever met.

"I rushed into Dad's room [Wednesday], and everyone who'd met him were blubbering," he said. "The poor nurse was so shaken up that she couldn't save him. Dad was just so nice to people."

As well as Ali -- who turned 70 earlier this month -- Dundee trained George Foreman, Willie Pastrano, Sugar Ray Leonard and Jose Napoles, among other big names.

The son of Italian immigrants, Dundee was born Aug. 30, 1921, in Philadelphia.

Hours before he died Wednesday, Dundee was still enthusiastically talking about boxing with The Wall Street Journal, including giving his opinion on the match-up between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto scheduled for May 5 in Las Vegas.

"It is a great bout," Dundee said, "but for the good of boxing, the winner has to fight [Manny Pacquiao]."

Doctors found Dundee's blood clot after he flew back to Florida after celebrating Ali's 70th birthday in Louisville, Ky, his son told the Times. He said his father told him he was not able to talk at length with his former charge.

"But with those two ... Muhammad doesn't talk well and Dad didn't hear well; all they had to do was look at each other," James Dundee said. "Dad always treated Muhammad as if he was his child, he cared that much for him."

As his sport featured in some of Hollywood's biggest films, so too did Dundee.

Hired as a consultant to get Hollywood star Russell Crowe fit for his role in "Cinderella Man" in 2005, Dundee ended up playing a small role as "Angelo the Cornerman" in the film. In addition, actor Ron Silver played Dundee in "Ali" in 2001.

A Facebook page set up by fans of Dundee posted a message Wednesday night, farewelling the iconic trainer.

"Very sad day, R.I.P, my friend...God must have needed a cornerman," the message said.