Bemused shoppers at the Fine Fare Supermarket in Hedge End rubbed their eyes in disbelief as the legendary former world heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, created an unforgettable “rumble” in the aisles.
It was an undoubtedly surprising and somewhat incongruous sight to witness a legend of Ali’s stature up close and personal, far from the bright lights of the boxing ring.
It’s safe to say that since that remarkable day, no one with a bigger name than Muhammad Ali has graced the local landscape.
Hampshire Heritage fondly recalls that momentous occasion five-and-a-half decades ago.
At the height of his fame, Ali was truly somebody special, a unique individual unlike any other. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville on January 17, 1942, he captivated the world.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the nation would regularly rise in the dead of night to tune into crackling televisions or radio sets, eager to catch the broadcasts of his epic fights.
But here he was, in the flesh, the great sporting hero, engaging with ordinary people in a seemingly ordinary Hedge End supermarket.
He was as captivating in person as he was in the ring. His face, remarkably unblemished by the countless battles he’d endured, was strikingly handsome.
He possessed a quick wit and that special, undefinable charisma that marks certain individuals as truly remarkable.
Renowned for his electrifying speed in the ring and the mesmerising footwork of the “Ali Shuffle,” he was the boxer who famously declared he could “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
His presence in the UK was orchestrated by the makers of Ovaltine, who brought him over to promote the popular malted milk drink. This is how the man later crowned the Sportsman of the Century found himself in Hedge End.
Known as much for his beguiling charm, outrageous boasting, and impromptu poems as for his powerful fists, Ali effortlessly worked the crowd. He greeted everyone with a kind word or a playful punch, even taking the time to pay special attention to Mandy Tourle, then just 12 months old.
Ali’s whirlwind visit to Southampton began on Thursday, October 15, 1971, when he arrived by train.
He was then swiftly whisked away to the Fine Fare store, where he spent about half an hour autographing tins of Ovaltine, much to the delight of the lucky shoppers.
Later that day, at the venerable Polygon Hotel, then Southampton’s most prestigious accommodation, now demolished to make way for a new development of flats, the boxer was happy to hold court.
Surrounded by scores of media, journalists, and TV cameramen, he commanded the room with his characteristic ease.
Amid the throng, one of Ali’s devoted fans, Beda Graham, along with his wife Yvonne and their five children from Townhill Park in Southampton, managed to appear by the side of the great man.
Turning to the youngsters, Ali, with his usual amicable “tact,” quipped, “How come you are so pretty when your dad looks like that!” The lighthearted jab gained laughter and further endeared him to the public.
Settling back in his chair, Ali shared that he had just returned from Nigeria, where he had also helped advertise Ovaltine. “This is the first thing I have ever promoted,” he told the gathered pressmen with conviction.
“I don’t promote alcohol, cigarettes or beer – nor do I make any movies. I have turned down offers of $10 million to advertise things I do not believe in.”
This statement underscored his strong moral compass and commitment to his principles, even in the face of lucrative opportunities.
The benefits of bedtime drinks were not the only subject Ali, never at a loss for words, discussed.
As was his custom, he seized the opportunity to playfully snipe at his arch-rival, Joe Frazier, then the reigning world heavyweight champion.
“I am going to retire after I meet Joe Frazier,” Ali declared.
“I am going to whup him like I did the first time. It was the judge who gave him the fight.”
Ali, who had been famously stripped of his world title for refusing to serve in the United States military during the Vietnam War, had been beaten by Frazier in his attempt to reclaim the title in their first epic encounter.
For a brief few minutes, a more serious side of Ali came to the surface.
“I represent freedom, justice and equality for the black people of the world,” said the boxer, who first donned a pair of gloves at the tender age of 12.
In that short but powerful declaration, there was a profound glimpse of his deeply-held convictions.
In his later years, Ali would further discover an interest in world politics as he bravely battled to keep Parkinson’s disease at bay, using his platform to advocate for various causes.
There was one other memorable occasion when Muhammad Ali visited Hampshire, surprising regulars when he stopped at the New Inn at Heckfield, near Basingstoke, in August 1977.
Ali was en route to have dinner with the producer of the film The Greatest, which chronicled the boxer’s incredible life story.
Finding himself early, he decided to make an impromptu stop at the pub.
He graciously signed many autographs during his 40-minute visit, though, true to his principles, Ali did not touch a drink. Instead, he preferred to joke and spar playfully with the landlord, Basil Francis, and the astonished locals in the bar.
The record books will show that Muhammad Ali’s professional boxing career spanned 21 years, during which he won an impressive 56 fights and scored 37 knock-outs out of a total of 61 bouts.
However, that is only half of the remarkable story that is Muhammad Ali. It wasn’t just his unparalleled boxing prowess that earned him worldwide respect and admiration; Ali masterfully harnessed his immense fame in the ring to champion crucial causes outside of it, most notably the fight for racial equality for Black Americans during a pivotal period in history.
His impact resonated far beyond the ropes, solidifying his status as a truly global icon.
