By Tony Palmer
In the early 1980s we were lucky enough to host Muhammad Ali for what should have been an afternoon interview at TV2, but became several very entertaining days.
I ended up commentating an entire night of boxing with him as my co-commentator, which, as a young broadcaster, was incredibly intimidating.
In a lengthy career as a sports broadcaster I've spent time with and interviewed thousands of top sportspeople. None of them had his wit, charisma, intensity or presence.
I had followed his extraordinary career as the finest ever boxer with great interest, but it was his influence as a fighter for human rights and race relations in the US that set him apart.
Tony Palmer and Muhammad Ali (Tony Palmer)
He was, for many years, the best-known face in the world, and he used that fame brilliantly to question the institutional racism that pervaded every aspect of life in the southern states of the US.
He gave up his World Champion title, went to jail, endured incredible hatred and alienated himself from mainstream, white society for refusing to engage in the Vietnam War on principle.
Cassius Clay, who became Muhammad Ali -- again for reasons of principle (Clay was his ancestors slave owners' name) -- is by a wide margin the most impressive sports person I've met and a man I feel privileged to have been able to spend time with. He will be greatly missed both as an exceptional sports achiever and a lifetime warrior for human rights.
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