Muhammad Ali is being remembered fondly by a New Zealand broadcaster who was lucky enough to meet him as he filled in for a colleague.

The legendary boxer died in a Phoenix hospital yesterday after a 32-year fight with Parkinson's.

Sports commentator Peter Montgomery was lucky enough to interview Ali in 1979 - on a TV2 show he was only covering for that weekend - because the usual anchor Barry Holland was in Sydney to see singer Linda Ronstadt.

Montgomery said Ali was only probably expecting to be in the studio for a few minutes, but he and Sir Bob Jones had him talking for an hour and a half.

"I could feel Muhammad Ali warming up as the interview went along," Montgomery said. "All of his wonderful humour and his quick responses...he just opened up about his career so far."

Montgomery believes Ali will be remembered as someone who transcended sport, who had a "huge impact not only as an outstanding sportsman but also on the culture and politics of the world."

"I'd rate Muhammad Ali right up in the very very short list of most outstanding sportsmen I've met anywhere anytime."

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE