Michael Parkinson has remembered sporting legend Muhammad Ali with a moving tribute this morning, describing him as a "graceful and beautiful man".
The presenter, 81, spoke out about his four famous interviews with the boxer, and said: "He was the biggest star they've ever had boxing, and maybe ever will have."
Three-time former world champion Ali, widely considered among the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport, passed away this week after being taken to an Arizona hospital with respiratory issues.
Speaking on Radio 4 this morning, Michael remembered in 1981-2, that "he [Ali] revealed in an interview with me, the fact that he was suffering from some kind of illness, which was later to consume him and caused his death."
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BBC)Remembering his "proudest moment", the presenter added that Ali's family recently asked him for recordings of the four interviews, so he could listen back, with Michael adding: "He'd sit there and say 'I get him now'."
"I like to think of him sitting there, watching them back and laughing," Michael added.
Asked abut the first time he met him backstage, Michael said: "It's not often, given the job I had, that I was allowed to be gob-smacked, but he did gob-smack me as he walked across the floor. I'd never seen a more graceful and beautiful man. He was extraordinary."
Describing his hands as "beautiful", Michael then praised his "sense of fun" which changed over the years with his condition.
Michael went on to speak about his huge career, and praised Ali's opponents for speaking out and paying tribute since his death.
"There was something about being ring-side that was extraordinary, you've never seen anyone box like this," he added.
"He was the biggest star they've ever had boxing, and maybe ever will have."
He's later quoted as saying: "Ultimately he was finished by the sport that he graced for so long."
Tributes have flooded in from the sports world, celebrities, musicians and beyond following his death.
Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr told Fox News: "There will never be another Muhammad Ali. The black community all around the world, black people all around the world, needed him. He was the voice for us. He's the voice for me to be where I'm at today.
"I just want to thank Muhammad Ali and his family for being such strong people. You will always be missed. My prayers go out to Ali and his family."
George Foreman, Ali's friend and rival from the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight, tweeted: "Until Ali no one said 'I'm beautiful' he was royalty, yet common man was his pal. That is beauty. Greatest kind."
He later told the BBC: "We were like one guy - part of me is gone."
"Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest human beings I have ever met. No doubt he was one of the best people to have lived in this day and age.
"To put him as a boxer is an injustice."
He also spoke of Ali's love for the UK and the way he was treated in the country.
"He loved London. If he had been born and raised in London he never would have changed his name," he said.
Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield told MSNBC: "I'm glad to have known Ali because when I was a kid, at eight years old, I was told I would be like Ali.
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PA)"To take it upon yourself and say; 'I'm the greatest', you put yourself in a position for people to take pot shots at you. This is what Ali did. It's amazing him becoming three-time heavyweight champion of the world. At that time people thought, 'Who could beat three?
"You have to be stronger to get up from a loss to go on and that's what Ali proved to be."
Former England footballer Gary Lineker tweeted: "The greatest has fought his final round. Muhammad Ali was the most magnificent athlete who transcended his sport."
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Argentinian boxer Marcos Maidana, a two-weight former world champion, tweeted: "Muhammad Ali the all-time greatest has left us. Thanks for everything. Go with God."
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Mike Tyson and Naomi Campbell have also joined the tributes to boxing legend Muhammad Ali after he died at the age of 74 on Friday.
Shortly after his death, Mike Tyson tweeted: "God came for his champion. So long great one. @MuhammadAli #TheGreatest #RIP "
Former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya tweeted: "RIP muhammadali, a legend who transcended sport and was a true champion for all. #thegreatest #MuhammadAli."
And supermodel Naomi Campbell shared: "not the #greatest please no #may #muhammadali #rip #this such a sad day #hero to all of us".
Meanwhile, reality stars, musicians and actors have all added their voices to the stream of tributes.
Kendall Jenner shared a photo of him in the ring, and wrote: "What a legend. RIP."
And her father Caitlyn Jenner added: "Ali, you were generous every time I met you. Thank you for all you did for so many. Your memory will live on forever. #Olympicgold #GOAT."
While Kris Jenner wrote: "Rest in peace, champ. #thegreatest."
And Ali's former promoter Don King told CNN: "He's always been right there, Johnny on the spot, anything he could do for the benefit of mankind.
"Let us celebrate his life. This is not a time to mourn. This is a time to try to emanate the job he was doing and the burden he leaves behind for us to carry on, to remember that the people are the most important."
Ali, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 32 years ago, is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history.
His family's spokesman Bob Gunnell confirmed Ali's death in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday evening local time.
A statement read: "The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and support and asks for privacy at this time."
His biographer Thomas Hauser told the BBC that Ali was "beautiful inside and beautiful outside". He tweeted that Ali's death was "the passing of a legend".
Retired Irish boxer Barry McGuigan spoke about Ali's actions inside and outside of the ring, including his role in the civil rights movement and his refusal to fight in the Vietnam war.
He said he was "a remarkable human being".
"He was hugely inspirational for me and many fighters all over the world," he said.
"Everybody wanted to box because of him."
He said: "He was just so amazing in every way. More than anything else it was how humble and how brilliantly charismatic he was.
"He was a beautiful looking man, a beautiful looking individual and he had so much compassion."
He added: "He was the greatest sportsman there has ever been and we were very lucky that he chose boxing."
Earlier his daughter, Laila Ali, shared a touching photo on social media and thanked fans for their support.
The 38-year-old posted on her official Facebook page: "I love this photo of my father and my daughter Sydney when she was a baby!
"Thank for all the love and well wishes. I feel your love and appreciate it!!"
