Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been crowned Sports Personality of the Century at the BBC's final sporting awards ceremony of the millennium.

Ali, the three-times world heavyweight champion, received a standing ovation as he collected the trophy at the Sports Personality awards.

And boxing celebrated a double triumph as current world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Ali collected more votes from BBC viewers than the other contenders - soccer stars George Best and Pele, cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, golfer Jack Nicklaus and athlete Jesse Owens - put together.

The 57-year-old, who received the award from former world boxing champion Evander Holyfield, said: "I would like to thank the British people for giving me such a big welcome and all the people concerned with the award."

And he joked: "I had a good time boxing. I enjoyed it - and I may come back."

Ali, who has Parkinson's Disease, also issued a statement which said: "Ever since I first came here in 1963 to fight Henry Cooper, I have loved the people of England.

"They have always been extremely warm and welcoming to me, which is why I am especially honoured to accept the BBC's Sports Personality of the Century.

"I give thanks to God and to all the people in the UK who have supported me over the years."

Guests at the ceremony in west London looked back over a century of sporting achievement as well as the excitement and drama of the past 12 months.

Dazzling skills

Ali was world heavyweight champion three times during his remarkable sporting career.

The man born Cassius Clay, who is now battling against Parkinson's Disease, will always be remembered for the dazzling boxing skills and extraordinary self-belief he exhibited both in and out of the ring.

Receving his BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Lennox Lewis said: "It is a great honour to be able to achieve my goal.

"It has been ten years of trials and tribulations trying to achieve my goal. For all the young athletes may my trials and tribulations be a level of success for them."

Manchester United's David Beckham, who is also one of the favourites to be named European footballer of the year, was second in the Sports Personality of the Year award, with 110m world championship hurdler Colin Jackson in third.

German tennis player Boris Becker, giant New Zealand rugby union wing Jonah Lomu and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - together with his Treble-winning squad - were among a galaxy of stars who attended the event.

United were named team of the year after their Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League triumphs.