Glasgow in the ring to pay homage to boxing icon Ali

Councillors are bidding to land a major photographic exhibition of Ali and, if successful, will use the occasion to honour the former world champion - perhaps with the freedom of the city.

Featuring over 90 images, the exhibition by photographer Neil Leifer delivers many of Ali’s knockout punches, including the iconic pictures of Ali standing over a defeated Sonny Liston in 1965 and the memorable overhead shot of Ali versus Cleveland Williams in 1966.

Senior councillors led by the former lord provost, Alex Mosson, have been working to bring the exhibition to Glasgow and sounding out the possibility of Ali visiting the city to receive an honour.

One insider said: "We have had an approach to see if we’re interested in the Neil Leifer exhibition. It will create a lot of public interest as there is a strong tradition of boxing in the west of Scotland.

"Since then, we have had a warm response from Muhammad Ali’s press people. It looks as though we’re going to do something, but we can’t bestow an honour until that is decided by the lord provost. However, it is certainly a possibility."

Glasgow is fighting off competition from as far afield as Washington to try to land the Leifer exhibition.

The source added: "The Leifer exhibition is nice, but the exhibition and Ali coming to Glasgow would be a coup for the city and that has to be our core objective."

Tommy Gilmour, a boxing promoter from St Andrew’s Sporting Club in Glasgow, said Ali’s return would bring back memories of the champ’s 1965 tour of Scotland, where he appeared in an exhibition bout at Paisley Ice Rink.

At the age of 13, Mr Gilmour was thrilled to hold the round cards as Ali sparred with Jimmy Ellis and Cody Jones.

The previous year, Ali had shocked the boxing world by making Sonny Liston retire in his corner. However, the famous Ali ego took a dent when he was booed out of the ring in Paisley.

He did not return to Glasgow until 2001, for a book signing, when the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease had taken its toll on the boxer.

Mr Gilmour said: "Glasgow is famous for three things - football, boxing and shipbuilding and I would love the opportunity to see Ali back in this city.

"I’ve got a signed picture of myself with him which takes pride of place in my office."

Mr Gilmour added that in private, Ali was far from the showman.

"I found him one of the shyest sportsmen I’ve ever met in my life," he added.

"In the dressing room, even though it was just an exhibition, he was so uptight about everything and wanted to be on his own."