who said float like a butterfly sting like a bee

The famous phrase “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” is most closely associated with boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Who said the quote?

• The line was popularized by Muhammad Ali during the early 1960s, especially around his 1964 fight against Sonny Liston.

• It became one of his signature boasts, capturing his quick footwork (“float”) and sharp punching power (“sting”).

A small twist on the origin

• Several boxing historians note that Ali’s cornerman and hype man, Drew “Bundini” Brown, helped create or phrase the original rhyme Ali then performed and repeated.

• Over time, the quote has been firmly credited to Ali himself in popular culture, books, and motivational uses.

What the phrase means

• “Float like a butterfly” refers to moving lightly and gracefully, especially Ali’s habit of dancing around opponents in the ring.

• “Sting like a bee” describes delivering sudden, sharp, and powerful blows that hurt far more than his graceful movement might suggest.

Answer in one line:
It was Muhammad Ali (with wording often linked to his cornerman Drew “Bundini” Brown) who said “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.