Sheffield boxing coach lands surprise Muhammad Ali honour
Superfan Glyn Rhodes is to be part of an exhibition celebrating Muhammad Ali
At first sight, Glyn Rhodes isn't the type of bloke you'd associate with fine art, let alone profound literary quotations.
Or second sight, come to that.
But the seasoned Sheffield boxing coach has become an unexpected contributor to a unique exhibition celebrating the life, influence, and enduring legacy of the great Muhammad Ali.
Rhodes was among many invited to send a quote for possible inclusion in an unusual artwork being prepared for Ali’s legendary training camp Fighter’s Heaven in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania.
They had asked the 66-year-old because he is one of Ali's most notable UK-based fans, having been on pilgrimages to Deer Lake on no fewer than seven occasions.
The Sheffield Boxing Centre veteran didn't expect his 67-word submission to make the cut.
But organisers saw something special in his sincerity and personal pride in Ali, the heavyweight widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time and who died on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74.
And they invited Rhodes to the “Fighter’s Heaven in Art” premiere exhibition in the US which will be held on October 10.
The new collection of 12 mixed-media paintings was created in collaboration with Ali’s daughter Khaliah.
Integral to the series are 45 original handwritten quotations contributed by leading voices from the world of boxing and beyond, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Ruben Olivares, Tim Witherspoon, Thomas Hauser, Jim Lampley, and Ray “Boom Boom’ Mancini.
Glyn's touching prose was: "Like a trusted friend that we rarely see but you know he's always there by your side, Ali has been a distant but constant companion all my life from a teenager to my now bright but autumn years.
"I use his quotes, values and stories every day in my gym. I don't do it to keep his memory and name alive because to me...he's never gone."
The boxing coach's literary effort clearly struck a chord with the organisers.
Glyn told The Star: "I was very shocked to have had my words chosen, because of some of the boxing legends that are also in there.
"I never dreamed they’d pick mine. I’ve been seven times in in total, but I'm looking forward to going again."
It's been a rewarding few weeks for the Stannington father-of-two Rhodes.
He recently discovered he was to be inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame after 50 years in the sport.