Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

The recent passing of Muhammad Ali has taken from the world an iconic figure who was one of the best known faces on the planet.

This boxing fan and correspondent will best remember "The Greatest" through conversations with a legendary kiwi amateur boxing trainer and an Auckland boxing writer and historian.

Both gentlemen established kiwi links to Muhammad Ali, both in person and through correspondence.

The New Zealand connection started in 1978, when the Heretaunga (Hutt Valley) Boxing Club, took up an invitation to visit and compete against the newly established Muhammad Ali Amateur Boxing Club in the States.

Heretaunga coach Alan Scaife, had a lifetime involvement with boxing but always considered that the trip to the Muhammad Ali boxing academy was the highlight of his life.

Ali was still active in his long and illustrious boxing career and was ringside when the Kiwi contingent fought in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The Muhammad Ali coach was former world heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis, who was assisted by legendary boxing cutman Chuck Bodak.

Bodak was one of the best known faces in American professional boxing for over 50 years and had been in the corner of the many of the legends of the ring, from Rocky Marciano and Ali to Tommy Hearns, Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya.

While the Heretaunga team was chock-full of New Zealand champions, they met a red-hot side of American boxers.

Two of the Ali club side in heavyweight Tony Tubbs and middleweight Lindell Holmes, went on to win world professional titles.

It was the promise of a return visit that brought Muhammad Ali to New Zealand in 1979.

The Muhammad Ali boxing team took on a Heretaunga invitation team at Western Springs in Auckland, before Ali took to the ring in a number of exhibition rounds, which showcased the unique Ali shuffle.

It was on this trip that New Zealand boxing writer Dave Cameron met "The Greatest" in person, which led to regular correspondence between the pair.

In a country where quality boxing books are rare, Cameron's "The New Zealand Boxing Scrapbook" ranks alongside Brian O'Brien's "Kiwis With Gloves On" as the two definitive kiwi boxing books.

Dave Cameron would have the biggest and finest collection of boxing memorabilia in New Zealand.

However, pride of place in his garage full of New Zealand and world boxing history, is his priceless autographed photograph of two of the best known figures of the twentieth century.

The photo of Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela, who was a more than useful boxer in his youth, was taken in South Africa in 1993.

After getting Ali to autograph the pic, Dave took a huge gamble and sent the photograph addressed simply to the President of South Africa.

To his great delight, the photo was duly returned with the prized signing of Nelson Mandela. An image of the photograph is contained within Dave's book.

On a personal note, Muhammad Ali ignited my lifetime passion in boxing. Who can forget watching grainy television coverage as 'The Greatest” mesmerized his opponents, with the Ali shuffle, as he seemingly floated around the ring.

Later we watched as he engaged in wars such as the Rumble in the Jungle and Thriller in Manila, before finally fading into retirement.

We will never forget you – Rest in Peace Muhammad Ali.