Saskatoon man remembers special meeting with Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali has a special place in the heart of one Saskatoon man.  

Wes Dennis is originally from the Cayman Islands, where his dad owned a bar. He recalls meeting the legendary boxer the early 80’s, when Ali was visiting the area.

“I got to hang out with him for a week or so; he was driving around with my father and as he was going around the island, we took photos and he got to meet all the kids on the island,” Dennis said.

Dennis was seven years old at the time and was taken by how kind and sweet the world’s greatest boxer was to everyone.

“As a kid you hear about him being a great fighter and beating up on the guys that he did. But to all us kids, he was hugging me and tickling me the whole time,” he said.

“I can still remember him messing with my ears, you know, that kind of thing.”

“He was shadow boxing with other kids, real personable and even at the age of seven; something like that just gets implanted in your mind.”

Dennis is an operating partner at Rock Creek Tap and Grill in Stonebridge.

He shared photos of the time with CKOM News, and said the memories came flooding back after learning of Ali’s death on June 3.

“You don’t think about so much until a moment like this when someone that great has been through your life, walked through your life, and then passes on,” he said.  

“I can still remember him messing with my ears, you know, that kind of thing.”