BOXING legend Muhammad Ali came to Stretford Mall 45 years ago.
Ali visited the shopping centre - then known as the Arndale Centre - in 1971. The shopping centre had opened in 1969.
‘The Greatest’ visited a supermarket on October 12, 1971 as part of a promotional tour with Ovaltine.
Ali, who died at the weekend at the age of 74 after battling Parkinson's disease for 32 years, had launched his comeback the previous year, after being banned from boxing for three and a half years for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War.
In a Messenger report in 2007 that recalled the visit, the then assistant manager of Stretford Mall, Lorraine Satterthwaite, said: "Ali's signature is in our visitors' book."
She added: "The shopping centre brought Stretford into the 1970s and was given the official finishing touches on April 30, 1969 when Mayor Matthews unveiled a plaque.
"Approximately three months later the second phase was launched."
Three years later, Ali reclaimed the world heavyweight championship when he beat George Foreman in the 'Rumble in the Jungle'.
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