It was alway a pleasure to be insulted by Muhamad Ali Ali boxed in Britain three times, twice against Henry Cooper - the first a near disaster for him when Cooper knocked him down and nearly out, the second a world title contest. He also defended against Brian London. He had three fights abroad against British opponents, two against Joe Bugner, who valiantly went the distance with him both times, and there was a stoppage win against Richard Dunn. Despite his early ranting on racial issues, Ali's popularity in this country always endured, even more so than in America, where opinions were divided for a long time. His three most memorable fights were the first and third meetings with Joe Frazier, the first at Madison Square Garden when he attempted to win the title back having been stripped of it for refusing the army draft. Frazier won on points. In the "Thrilla in Manila," described by Ali as a "near-death experience," Frazier retired at the end of the 14th round and, of course, there was that "Rumble in the Jungle" when he famously and, against the odds, regained the title from George Foreman. Even before that punishing contest in Manila there were calls from Ali's associates, especially his medical adviser Dr Ferdie Pacheco, to retire because he had started taking too much punishment but he boxed on until 1981. After he did finally retire, Ali's connections in Britain contacted the BBC's Grandstand to ask if he could come on the programme to show that rumours of his decline were exaggerated. As he walked into the studio, the whole crew, usually blasé, stood and applauded, but I could see he had lost a great deal of his spark. A few years ago it was confirmed that Ali had some Irish blood in him. His great-grandfather was Abe Grady from the town of Ennis in the west of Ireland. Abe had emigrated to the United States in 1860 and married an African-American. His son did the same and their daughter Odessa was the mother of the man who was to become the greatest sporting icon of the 20th century. I was born in Ennis and there is evidence to show that my great-grandfather probably went to school with young Mr Grady. I am quite proud of the very tenuous connection. To mark his birthday, on Tuesday night and for the following four nights, ITV4 are showing footage of some of his memorable fights. Barry McGuigan's encyclopedic knowledge of Ali's career adds to the programmes. Don't miss it.