A PROUD mother has relived the moment legendary boxer Muhammad Ali kissed her eight-month-old son.

Julie Harper and her husband Ricky, of Valley Road, Billericay, had arranged to attend a build-up event ahead of the world heavyweight title bout between American fighter Tim Witherspoon and Frank Bruno.

The boxing legend and three-time world heavyweight champion, who died last week aged 74, attended one of the build-up events at Basildon’s Crest Hotel in 1986, now the Holiday Inn on the modern-day Festival Leisure Park.

Reigning champion Witherspoon was using the hotel as his base and training camp ahead of the fight at Wembley Stadium in London.

Mrs Harper, 51, said: “Ali was meeting his friends and fans at the hotel.

“My husband is an avid fan of boxing so we decided to go along and take Wayne, who was about eight months old at the time.

“As soon as Ali walked in, he went straight up to me and Wayne, took Wayne off me and kissed him.

“I felt so proud to see him do that.”

The thrilled mum was able to take a picture of the momentous occasion which the family now treasure.

The couple also got some signed boxing gloves from the heavyweight boxer, generally considered one of the greatest fighters of all time by commentators and experts worldwide.

Ali met dozens of his fans in Basildon that day, signing auto - graphs and posing for pictures with them.

His career saw him win 56 out of 61 fights as a professional and he took home the gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.

Wayne, who is now 30, went on to take up boxing as a sport.

“Wayne didn’t fight for long, but he had quite a few wins,” Mrs Harper recalled.

“He doesn’t remember meeting Ali as he was too young at the time, but he still has the photo of them together.”

Wayne gave up the sport after settling down with his wife in Billericay.

Mrs Harper said: “My husband was an avid boxing fan and he respected Ali. He was quite touched when he heard about Ali’s passing.”