Shock at plans to demolish Birmingham's former Muhammad Ali centre

Enterprise group Kajans has submitted plans to Birmingham City Council for the demolition of the now-derelict building – and are hoping to replace it with a new community college.

The building, which was famously opened by former heavyweight boxing champ Ali during a visit to the city in 1983, has remained unused since a fire in 2002, despite several campaigns by local groups for its restoration and reopening.

Community leader Delores Pinkney, who runs the Dojo Community Project, was living in Birmingham when the Ali visited the city, even hosting a visit from the former world champ at their home. And while she says she is not against developing the site and putting it to good use, she believes a large chunk of Birmingham’s history will be lost if Ali’s name is not incorporated into the plans somehow.

She said: “That’s part of the history of Birmingham. It’s not just the BME community, it’s the community at large. Because that building has serviced the community, and the purpose of it was to continue to serve.

“I am really surprised that this should be allowed, as part of Birmingham’s history. And I’m not detracting from progress – but there’s no mention now of Muhammad Ali at all. It has been part and parcel of our community, especially for those who grew up from the 1960s onwards.

“We have campaigned tirelessly for its restoration, and when we were informed that it had gone to Kajans – well done, that’s fine – no problem there. But it’s what now is going to done with it. Muhammad Ali never existed as a world champion, coming into Birmingham?

“It’s part of our heritage. When Birmingham City Council had the money for the fire, we requested that that money be put into the building. What did they do? It wasn’t. I’m not against progress, but his name should still be there. Rest in Peace Muhammad Ali. It’s history, and it’s part of the legacy of Birmingham. He came here.

“I can not remember the exact quote, but he said that he’d been everywhere over the world and he really felt at home here – something to that effect. I think it was one of the only times he really felt close to the people.

“He was really welcomed – it’s upsetting me talking about it, and from the point of losing yet something else that is part of our legacy and our history – it’s a shame.

“If his name can be incorporated somewhere there then great, to show that he was there. We just don’t want to see that period of our history totally wiped out.

“It’s just sad. We’ve done so much work trying to save the building.”

Delores has been campaigning for over ten years for the restoration of the former community centre, and her brother Hector even worked as a security guard the day that that Ali came to visit. But she says that neither she nor others in the local community were informed about plans for the building’s demolition.

A decision on the future of the site will be made at next week’s planning committee on May 7.