Madras in 1980 was one of the places he travelled to, for an exhibition match with heavyweight boxer Jimmy Ellis. The match, pictured here, was meant to "demonstrate the skills of the game as fought by top professionals". It ended in a draw.

Muhammad Ali dominated sports for two decades before time and Parkinson’s disease, travelling the world as a global icon. Photo: AP

Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Ellis with the then CM M.G. Ramachandran.

The programme also had him taking up a bout with an aspiring young boxer.

The programme's proceeds went to a boxing institute in the city.

Ali with a five-year-old boxing enthusiast in New Delhi in 1980.

The legendary boxer and his wife also paid a visit to the then CM M. Karunanidhi in 1990.

He would be back to India again, 10 years later in 1990. Here, he is seen in a mosque in Kolkata.