Stories from the set

The film's screenplay is based on the book by Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham, and Herbert Muhammad, «The Greatest: My Own Story».

The film used documentary footage, and many characters, including Muhammad Ali himself and his brother Rahaman, world boxing champion Archie Moore, and many members of Ali's team, played themselves.

In 1990, the song The Greatest Love of All, recorded by George Benson for this film, received an award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as the most frequently performed theme from a film.