Boxing legend still a crowd pleaser

By Danny Savage BBC News, Hyde, Greater Manchester

He is regarded as the most recognised American in the world - immortalised by that famous phrase about his fighting style: "Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee".

Muhammad Ali's legendary prowess in the ring, matched by his personality, was a combination which made him admired around the world.

Even on a grey day in Hyde, in Greater Manchester, hundreds of people turned out to catch a glimpse of the man crowned sports personality of the century by the BBC in 1999, receiving more votes than the other contenders put together.

'Aura about him'

Keef Reay, 50, had driven from Chester: "I've loved him all my life. He's the most fantastic boxer who ever lived and one of the greatest men who ever lived."

His wife, Debbie, said the former boxer had an "aura about him".

But the crowd was not restricted to those who could remember Ali's heyday.

Martin Molloy, 24, was not even born when Ali had his last fight. But, standing close to the front of the crowd, he said: "He's a great man, an inspiration.

Hundreds of people of all ages gathered to catch a glimpse of Ali

"I've seen documentaries, re-runs of his fights, and read his books. He's the greatest."

Sama Ghafoor, 18, lives just around the corner from boxer Ricky Hatton's gym where Ali was visiting.

"I thought this would never happen in my life, and I can't believe it. What are the chances of him coming to Hyde?

"I've heard so many stories about him from my parents. He's a good role model."

The boxer is here on a two-week tour of the UK, but sadly the ravages of Parkinson's disease have left him a shadow of his former self.

As he arrived on Wednesday afternoon, he took a few slow, careful steps from his people carrier, before offering a wave to the people who had come to see him.

He was then helped into Hatton's gym for a look round.

Later, he will be attending a special dinner in his honour at Old Trafford.

Tickets for the event cost hundreds of pounds, and it will cost those attending a further £1,200 if they want to have a photo with their hero.

But such is his poor state of health, this could well be Muhammad Ali's final round in Britain.

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