Meet the Milwaukee man who knocked down Muhammad Ali

MILWAUKEE -- Age may have taken away his strength and dementia may make it hard to remember. But Eddie "Bossman" Brooks does not forget the time he knocked down one of the world's greatest boxers.

Eddie "Bossman" Brooks

Brooks was a champion boxer in Wisconsin. Pictures show a career inside the ring that included being the sparring partner for Muhammad Ali.

Eddie "Bossman" Brooks

Niece Renee French Brooks says it was surreal to have a family member helping train one of the world's best.

"Meeting up with him, sparring with him, hanging out with him.  And to have some famous people so close to you. It was very, very exciting," said French Brooks.

In 1971, as the story goes, Brooks knocked Ali flat on the floor in a training session in Chicago.

"Our uncle, Eddie "Bossman" Brooks was the heavyweight champion here representing Wisconsin, and then at the same time, Muhammad Ali was representing the world," sand French Brooks.

A world cherishing memories of one of the greats now gone.

Eddie "Bossman" Brooks with niece, Renee French Brooks