Paul Stephenson, Neil Kenlock and Ali at The Tulse Hill School, 1974
During the Summer of 1963, the civil rights activist Paul Stephenson was leading a bus boycott in Bristol against the Bristol Omnibus Company who were refusing to employ Black and Asian drivers. This was ultimately successful and on 17 September a Sikh became Bristol's first non white bus conductor, followed shortly after by a Jamaican and two Pakistani men. That same Summer of '63 Muhammad Ali defeated Henry Cooper at Wembley Stadium to tee up the famous title shot with Sonny Liston, where Ali would 'shake up the world'. Ali was also becoming more involved with causes for Black liberation in the USA, and would announce his conversion to Islam under the fold of the Nation of Islam, soon after defeating Liston.
Fast forward a decade and Stephenson and Ali would become connected through their shared struggles against racism and injustice. On 30 October 1974, after months of build up, including the fight being delayed due to an eye injury to George Foreman, Ali recaptured the heavyweight championship of the world in dramatic fashion. Foreman was supposed to end Ali's career. The majority of pundits gave no chance for Ali and some even feared for his safety. As he did throughout his life Ali tore this script up and wrote his own, knocking Foreman out in round 8 after the 'rope a dope'. Almost immediately after the bell the heavens dramatically opened in Zaire, as the pent up pressure of previous months released. On his way back to the States, Ali would stop over in London, which brought himself and Stephenson together.
Paul Stephenson met Ali in the Hyde Park Hilton hotel. In an interview to Sky News Paul recounts his conversation.
Paul invited Ali to the Tulse Hill School, where Paul was on the board of governors.
Ali: 'I'm tired, I'm a busy man. How much you gunna pay me'?
Stephenson: 'I have not got a dollar'.
Ali: 'What about a dime'?
Stephensnon: 'I have not got a dime also Muhammad'
Ali: 'Maaaan you got more nerve than Frazier'!
Ali, famous for his generosity did come down to Tulse Hill School the following day. The school was packed with over 1000 children to receive Muhammad. Stephenson recalls introducing Ali on stage, and the room erupting! Ali and one of the school children even sparred, and Ali spoke about the importance of education and respect for your teachers. Muhammad even left Paul with the great gift of a personal poem.
'I like your school Mr Stephenson
I admire your style
But your pay is so cheap
I won't be back for a while'.
The photographer, Neil Kenlock, captured photos of the school visit. In an interview with the BBC Neil remarked, 'It was absolutely incredible that The Greatest came to my school in Brixton. In those days...nobody cared about Brixton but Muhammad Ali came from America to London...and insisted that he should go to the Black community and meet with young boys and girls to inspire them'.
Check out a BBC interview with Neil here, which includes the photo of Ali sparring the young student at Tulse Hill school! You can also view another BBC interview featuring both Paul and Neil below.
Paul concludes his Sky News interview with the wonderful worlds - 'To young Black, poor, he was a God, like a Roman God. He gave them the will to work hard, to get educated, to meet the world as it stands, and to change it for the better'.
Thanks to Neil Kenlock and his team who have offered their kind support for the project. All quotes have been attributed and sources have been provided.
By Haseeb Khan