Did Muhammad Ali levitate during a visit to Indianapolis?

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Muhammad Ali came to Indianapolis in 1996 to campaign for Julia Carson, who was then running for Congress for the first time.

Carl Drummer was a deputy constable who was assigned to provide security for the former heavyweight champion. Drummer has met celebrities.

“Muhammad Ali was the most interesting,” he said.

And when Ali died Drummer posted photos on Facebook taken 20 years ago when he was alongside “The Greatest.” Before he knew it, his Facebook page recorded more than 750 likes.

“You know, I was able to slide in,” he said, “and make sure I got my bit of history.”

It was on a day when Ali also made an appearance at Riley Hospital. He and Drummer visited a local mosque, too.

But what Drummer remembers most is the stop at the boxing gym in Riverside Park.

“He kind of in his own way just said look at this, look at this,” he said of Ali. “And I stepped over to look at it and to this day I can’t tell you… he was floating. He was floating in the air, but I don’t know how he did it.”

Drummer says there were no strings, no visible sign of support.

“He was off the ground,” Drummer said.

When asked how far, Drummer said, “Probably levitated about that high,” indicating a distance of about 4 inches.

Maybe it was an optical illusion, but it’s now part of the legend.