As the North-East prepares to host its biggest ever boxing contest when Darlington’s Stuart Hall defends his IBF World Bantamweight title against West Rainton’s Martin Ward at the Metro Radio Arena tonight, we look back on the day one of the most famous heavyweight champions flew thousands of miles to visit the region

ON the morning of July 14, 1977, about 1,500 people gathered at Newcastle airport to welcome royalty.

The Queen was in the middle of celebrating her Silver Jubilee, but it wasn’t Her Majesty who people were waiting for, or why 17 youth jazz bands lined the entrance to the airport.

They were waiting for boxing royalty.

World heavyweight champion, and arguably one of the greatest sportsmen in history, Muhammad Ali, was about to land on Tyneside.

In a new book, Muhammad Ali – Tyneside 1977, author Russell Routledge looks back on the champion’s trip to the North-East and how it came about through the sheer determination of one man.

In 1977, Ali was the world champion and at the peak of his career. Johnny Walker was a painter and decorator from South Shields, but he possessed a dream, which was labelled impossible at the time, to convince Ali to come to Tyneside.

On March 30, Walker left his North-East roots to fly to Chicago in the hope he could track down the boxing great and ask him to help to raise funds for the region’s cash-strapped boys’ clubs. Just over three months later, the procession waited with bated breath to see Ali walk through arrivals at Newcastle airport.

As the book explains, Ali’s journey to the North- East was not plain-sailing and he ended up having to be diverted to Teesside airport, from where he was driven the remaining 40 miles to Newcastle.

Ali spent four days touring the region, sparring with local and national champions, as well as attending a civic reception and taking part in various talk-ins. During his time, a sum of £20,000 was raised and despite not receiving a fee for his appearances, Ali made it clear how much he had enjoyed his trip.

“It’s something I will never forget. To think I have so many friends here in South Shields,” the world heavyweight champion said.

  • Muhammad Ali– Tyneside 1977 was released in February to mark the 50th anniversary of Ali becoming world weavyweight champion for the first time, and is available for £12.99. It is also available in Kindle, Kobo and iBook formats.