When I was at prep school I was a very keen boxer. The matron (a former Bletchley Park wren) was a massive boxing fan, and I remember her getting permission from the headmaster for her to let the members of the boxing club watch the BBC's delayed transmission of the Rumble in the Jungle on the TV in her sitting room.

I admired Ali so much, as a man and above all as a boxer. It was only later, when I read up about the whole background to the Thrilla in Manila fight against Joe Frazier that his reputation became a bit tarnished for me. Frazier did a huge amount for Ali while he was out in the wilderness, which Ali repaid in the run-up to the fight by making some appallingly racist insults about Frazier, and treating him in a pretty disgraceful way.

Notwithstanding all that, I still have great admiration for him as a boxer; seldom if ever have we seen such thrilling heavyweight. I also have great respect for the way he was prepared to sacrifice his entire career and go to jail to stand up for what he believed in, by refusing the draft for Vietnam. His remark "I don't have no problem with the VietCong; ain't no VietCong ever called me Nigger" encapsulated the whole issue quite brilliantly.

One thing's for sure; there'll never be another like him.

R.I.P.

Giles. Mogless in Paris.