Loved and admired the world over, Muhammad Ali had a special affinity with London. And London loved him.
It was here, where boxing was first classed by the Queensberry Rules in 1865, that Ali fought the most contests outside of the USA. He returned to London three times in his career – twice to fight against Sir Henry Cooper and once against the aptly-named, Brian London.
Ali always had a special bond with the British public. He paid surprise visits to Brixton on two occasions, he joked with football fans, he spoke with Michael Parkinson, and he loved to take in the sights – leaping fences in Hyde Park, running along the Mall and taking in the sights at the GPO tower in London.
Ali even escorted the Olympic flag at London 2012.