By GREG WYCHERLEY
All Black great Sean Fitzpatrick is getting an opportunity to meet "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, at the legendary boxer's 59th birthday celebration in London.
The only man to win the world heavyweight title three times, Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, is in London for the 2000 World Sports Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.
The visit coincides with his birthday celebrations at the Park Lane Hotel on Monday night in London (this morning NZ time).
Ali was voted Sports Athlete of the Century at last year's awards, held in Vienna.
Fitzpatrick will be among the 600 guests at both functions.
Some of the world's top sportspeople, including American sprinters Marion Jones and Michael Johnson, Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo and Germany's Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, are attending the awards.
English actor Roger Moore, famous for his James Bond movie roles, is the presenter.
Fitzpatrick said he had been at a function with Ali in 1993 but had never met him and was hoping to get the opportunity to shake hands with the man who once described himself as the "King of theWorld."
"It would be a great honour if I got the opportunity.
"I'm not sure if he's heard of the All Blacks, but I think he would have."
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Fitzy joins the queue to greet Ali
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