AS the world mourns the death of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, he had become a familiar face to those in an Abingdon council estate 

Former world champion Ali visited Paddy Monaghan more than 20 times at his Saxton Road home after the pair became close friends in the 1960s.

The former heavyweight world champ, who died this morning aged 74, shook hands with residents and signed autographs for the estate’s youngsters who turned out to see him.

Speaking four years ago as Ali turned 70, Mr Monaghan said no one could believe it when the the boxer and civil rights campaigner turned up in Abingdon.

“Back in those days they where probably pinching themselves,” said Mr Monaghan. “But the two of us are just friends and that’s all there is to it.”

Mr Monaghan and Ali became friends in 1967 when he started a campaign to get Ali’s boxing licence reinstated after he refused to serve in the Vietnam War.

Irish-born, bare-knuckle boxing champion Mr Monaghan, who claimed he was undefeated in 114 fights, even stayed at Ali’s mansion in Philadelphia. 

Donald Southey, president of Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club, who lived next door to Mr Monaghan, once chatted to the sports star for an hour.

He said: “When the kids knew he was coming the whole street was alive. And it erupted when he got there. All the kids were trying to shake his hand. And all the kids enjoyed it, especially it being a rundown area like Saxton Road.

“It was an honour to have him come. He was a real nice man. He was not the sort of person who became famous and ignored you, he wanted to talk to you.”

He said: “There will never be a man like him.“

Mr Southey’s sister, Kim, 51, of Comfrey Court, Abingdon, said: “It was great. When you are that age it is great to see a great person, someone who has done such a lot in their life.”

Bridget Rhoades-Brown was 11 when Ali first came to Saxton Road and, later at the age of 19, she saw him spar with Mr Monaghan’s 16-year-old son Tyrone in August 1983.

The 48-year-old, of Halse Water, Didcot, said it was a honour the boxing hero came to the street so many times.

She said: “At the time I didn’t realise how big a deal it was. He was just friends with Paddy who lived across the road from us.”

Ali also met fellow Parkinson’s Disease sufferer Alan Smith through Mr Monaghan.

Mr Smith died in 2009 and his widow Margaret, 71, of Fairacres Road, Didcot, said: “Alan thought he was wonderful.”