“Ali was 6ft3in’ and the guys he fought were about the same size. How would he do against a 6ft9in guy who is an incredible boxer with great footwork?”

Muhammad Ali would have struggled “competing” with the much larger Tyson Fury, according to Bob Arum who has promoted both men.

Top Rank’s Arum, 88, brought Ali to Arsenal’s stadium Highbury in 1966 where he beat Henry Cooper in a rematch. He now promotes Fury in the US and led him to becoming WBC heavyweight champion by dethroning Deontay Wilder.

George Foreman’s comeback from 10 years away was also promoted by Arum. Foreman became the oldest-ever heavyweight champion in 1994.