Berlin: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has received a German peace prize for his efforts to promote civil rights and the work of the United Nations.
The former world heavyweight champion accepted the Otto Hahn peace medal, named after a German nuclear physicist and is the first sportsman to receive the prestigious prize.
"Ali is more than a champion. He is a formidable ambassador for peace," said Klaus Wowereit, the mayor of Berlin after presenting the award on Saturday.
The 63-year-old Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, left it to his wife Lonnie to reply on his behalf.
"Otto Hahn and Muhammad have both worked in areas which had devastating effects but they never gave up on peace," she said.
The prize is awarded every two years. Previous winners include former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal and musician Yehudi Menuhin.
Otto Hahn (1879-1968) won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944 and after the war became a vocal nuclear arms control advocate.
After receiving the prize, Ali was due to attend a fight featuring his daughter Laila against Sweden's Asa Maria Sandell.
The bout was on the undercard of the John Ruiz v Nikolay Valuev WBA heavyweight title clash.
"He is very proud of his daughter, even though as a Muslim and a man, he has reservations about female boxing," his wife said.
"He will be happy if Laila claims her 22nd victory," she added.
Ali had said on Friday that he was honoured to receive the prize, which is awarded by Germany's Society for the United Nations (DGVN).
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