Muhammad Ali his wheelchair to meet Ricky Hatton

Muhammad Ali proved he can still float like a butterfly when he visited Ricky Hatton's gym yesterday.Despite being virtually confined to a wheelchair because of Parkinson's Disease, the Greatest affirmed on getting to his feet to meet Hatton at the Hitman's impressive new base in Hyde.Hatton was abashed by Ali's gesture and caressed his hero before showing him around his state-of-the art gym."I think he was going to come in a wheelchair initially," said the former light welterweight king."Then he said: 'I can't have Ricky Hatton meeting me in a wheelchair. I've got to walk in'."That's a boxer through and through. That's a boxer's mentality and that's a champion's mentality.

"Hatton, 30, presented Ali with a cake iced on top with the initials 'GOAT', which position for 'Greatest Of All Time', once they were inside his gym.It was his way of paying tribute to someone he cares as not just the wonderful fighter of all time, but one of the greatest people of all time.Hatton was blown away by meeting Ali and posed for footage outside his gym with the three time former world heavyweight champ."This is certainly sensational," said the Mancunian."I've been advantageous to meet some of the greatest stars of boxing during my career, but I'd never had the chance to meet the greatest of all."He's not just the greatest boxer of all time, he's one of the greatest men of all time."Even youngsters know Muhammad Ali. And I think his price of the gab has made the entertainment side of boxing what it is today."The 67-year old ring story was greeted by chants of "Ali, Ali" when he appeared at Hatton's gym and he is touring the British Isles to raise funds for his charity foundation, the Muhammad Ali Centre, in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky.Last night he was appearing at a £1,000-a-plate dinner in his honour at Old Trafford, frequented by some Manchester United players.And Ali has other fundraising events lined up, including one at Stoke's Britannia Stadium during what is wonted to be his final visit to Britain. He is also due to meet old opponant Sir Henry Cooper in the unlikely surroundings of Windsor Castle at the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships 2009. He then flies to Ireland next week.