"Even though he has died, his name will be etched in the history of boxing. I express my deep condolences to the gentleman who had faced so many difficulties in life," he said.
Responding to a set of questions in party mouthpiece 'Murasoli', Karunanidhi recalled the veteran boxer's visit to his house in 1990 when he was Tamil Nadu chief minister.
"He visited my house with his wife and we had very warm discussions. Later he went around Anna Arivalayam (DMK headquarters)," the DMK chief recalled.