Woke up this morning to the incredibly sad news that Muhammad Ali had passed away.
The news was gradually filtered through on social media until an official statement was made, for me and I am sure many boxing fans around the world it was a truly sleepless night.
My first memories of Ali were as a five-year-old. I was watching what would turn out to be one of his last fights against Leon Spinks. At the time, I had just begun my marital arts career, and Bruce Lee was my idol. I was seeing a man getting beat (on a controversial decision if I say!). But what made this, so intriguing is that not one man in the room was watching that night, wanted Ali to lose.
My next question to my dad was, who is Muhammad Ali? The next morning I was in the library the minute it opened, I found a book on boxing legends and began my journey into the life of Ali.
In the time since Ali started boxing, I honestly believe there has never been an athlete quite like him. Possibly even any celebrity. The man transformed a sport, bridged racial barriers and even sentenced to prison for something he believed. His later battle with Parkinson’s disease brought attention to the world.
Ali was just not just an athlete; he was an ambassador, legend, icon, and father.
I was short of being born by six months when my other idol Bruce Lee died. But this is the only other Idol I can say I have known in my life.
Going back to the days of VHS I owned every single Ali fight, I would watch them relentlessly, over and over, studying his footwork so it would make me a better fighter in martial arts.
As time went on, the aura of the man just grew. We say a new whirlwind in Boxing, Mike Tyson, destroy opponent after opponent, yet the era of heavyweight boxing never quite saw a man like Ali.
In a time where being a celebrity means looking like a constipated duck, I sigh at the people that are passing away. In an era where there were no social media, Ali truly was the voice of a generation.
Colour, creed nor religion could stop your admiration for this man.
I end on a personal note. I used to work in Bristol and on my lunch break, I would visit Waterstones the local bookstore. Usually, the had a lot of book signings so not unusual to see a crowd gather. However this lunchtime the store was so full it was unbelievable.
I went to purchase Ali’s new biography “A Thirty Year Journey”. As I got to the cashier, the lady said: “Do you want this signed?”. I turned around, and ten metres away was the man himself.
Safe to say I met him for less than five seconds but he asked me “Who should I make it out to?” I said “Dean.” His reply “Like Big Dean Martin”.
A moment I will treasure.
Shame there were no camera phones in those days, but you can see my 1990’s slicked back hairdo in this photo just behind Ali!
The world has lost a hero. Heaven has gained its champion.
RIP Muhammad Ali. Free from pain, free to reign.
