Category : Factual
& Arts TV; North
East & Cumbria TV
Date : 15.03.2004
Printable version
Rare film
archive of a visit by the world's most famous heavyweight boxer, Muhammad
Ali, to the small North East town of South Shields is to be broadcast
to a national audience for the first time this week on 91Èȱ¬ ONE.
The boxing legend, who is one of the most recognised faces on earth,
had his wedding vows blessed in a mosque in the Tyneside town during
a visit from America 26 years ago.
Ali, who is now fighting the greatest battle of his life against Parkinson
Disease, granted 91Èȱ¬ ONE's Inside Out a rare television audience at
his home in the United States.
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Ali's daughter Hana says that, for her sentimental
father, watching himself as a young, fit man is his best medicine.
Viewers will see Ali shadow box to the 91Èȱ¬'s camera as he watches himself
in the ring in South Shields at his ranch in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
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He is visibly moved by the scenes showing him renew
his wedding vows to his newly-wed wife.
Hana tells Inside Out: "He gets excited watching himself when he's
boxing. It gives him energy, he starts throwing punches and his eyes
open up. It's probably the best medicine I can think of.
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"He felt a little sentimental
watching the archive. It was at a time when he was still youthful.
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"Watching himself have his wedding blessed, that
was a nice experience. I think he was in a somewhat sentimental mood."
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The programme tracks down some of the people who met
Ali during his visit to Tyneside in July 1977.
Ali was invited to South Shields by a painter and decorator from Whitburn,
Johnny Walker, who asked for help to raise funds to revive a boxing
club in the town.
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Mr Walker has since died but Peter Gillanders, formerly
of South Tyneside Council, says: "At first we could not believe
it but, when the penny dropped that Ali was coming, we decided we had
to organise a major programme around the visit."
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Carol Lake, who played in the Embassy Heralds marching
band, says: "My biggest memory was when I finally got to me and
he was pulling my pigtails. He had a thing about my hair."
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Light heavyweight boxer Reg Long, who loaned Ali his
red velvet shorts for a sparring match, said: "I didn't want to
do too much and hit him too hard in case he got bad tempered.
"You felt that you could have been sparring with Jesus Christ.
He was always a little bit above you," added Reg in awe.
Ali, ever the show man, sparred with five opponents that night, dancing
around the ring like a butterfly, but keeping the sting of his glove
in check.
But the former boxing World Champion, who had only recently married
Miss Veronica Porche, wanted to bless his marriage vows and felt the
mosque in South Shields would be an ideal place.
Thousands of people from across the North East and Muslims from even
further afield came to the blessing at the Azhar Mosque in Laygate Lane,
South Shields.
Hana, who was only 13 months old at the time of the blessing on film,
tells Inside Out: "I always get a thrill watching my father, especially
as a humanitarian type doing things for charity, because it seems to
me he is most alive when he does that type of thing."
She adds: "These people looked up to him and the more places my
father visited, the more he was filled with pride."
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Inside Out Extra, 91Èȱ¬ ONE, Wednesday
17 March, 7.30pm
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Notes to Editors
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Inside Out Extra is a compilation of the best stories
from 91Èȱ¬ English Regions.
91Èȱ¬ ONE's Inside Out Extra should be credited if any of this story is
published.
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Pictures are available by contacting 91Èȱ¬ North East
& Cumbria Press Office.
