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| Boxing legend still a crowd pleaser | Boxing legend still a crowd pleaser |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| By Danny Savage BBC News, Hyde, Greater Manchester Advertisement | By Danny Savage BBC News, Hyde, Greater Manchester Advertisement |
| Ricky Hatton welcomes Muhammad Ali to his gym | Ricky Hatton welcomes Muhammad Ali to his gym |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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." | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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." | "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. | 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 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But such is his poor state of health, this could well be Muhammad Ali's final round in Britain. |