North pal at Muhammad Ali birthday bash

Jan 29 2012 by Katie Davies, Sunday Sun

BOXING fan Russ Routledge has savoured many proud moments in his life - but nothing will top celebrating the 70th birthday of boxing legend Muhammad Ali with the man himself.

Russ’s dream to meet his idol on his milestone birthday came true when he got a surprise call from Ali’s brother Rahaman, inviting him to the party.

And today, through exclusive and never-seen before photographs, the Sunday Sun can reveal details of the heavyweight champion’s birthday bash.

Pictures taken from inside the Ali Centre in Louisville, Kentucky, show Ali cutting his butterfly and bee designed birthday cake and Russ celebrating with the champ.

The 54-year-old, from Newcastle’s West End, was one of 350 lucky friends, guests and family members to be invited to the party on January 14.

And as stars turned out on mass to catch a glimpse of Ali as he walked down the red carpet into the Ali Centre, people wondered how Russ – a Geordie – was chosen to attend the event.

Russ, a former Home Office worker, said: “Everyone wanted to know why this strange sounding person from the other side of the world who called himself a ‘Geordie’ had come all this way to attend the champ’s birthday.

“I just told them that I wanted to see Muhammad again and to thank him personally for all the times he shared with me in the past.”

Russ met Ali when the boxing legend came to the Grainger Park Club in Newcastle, where he was an amateur boxer.

He caught Ali’s attention and tickled his sense of humour when he read him an Ali-style poem when introduced to him.

But it was in 1984 when Russ received a telephone call from Ali inviting him to spend time at his Hollywood mansion in Los Angeles, California.

Russ has visited him many times since, and been his guest when he has been in the UK. The last time he saw him was in 2005 at the opening of the Muhammad Ali Centre in Kentucky.

But with over 30 years of memories and pictures, Russ said nothing beats the night of the champ’s birthday.

During the event photographers and friends swarmed Ali but Russ managed to catch a few minutes of his time.

And he told the Sunday Sun that it was unbelievable to meet him again.