This 1963 picture of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, known then as Cassius Clay, was taken a few weeks before his first bout with the British fighter Henry Cooper at Wembley. There are many sumptuous photographs of “The Greatest” in the archives: him castigating the defeated Sonny Liston, dodging a haymaker from Joe Frazier and, of course, larking around whenever a camera or microphone was nearby. But this frame is different. It captures a youthful Clay in a moment of tranquility – perhaps lost in thought or concentration – his legacy yet to be written. Though Clay was felled by a sweet left hook by Cooper in the fourth round, he would recover to win the bout and went on to achieve unprecedented success in the ring, becoming heavyweight champion of the world three times. Through his refusal to fight in the Vietnam war and his staunch support of civil rights, he ultimately transcended sport itself and become an icon of the 20th century.
Specifications
- Presented on museum-grade C-Type matt photographic paper stock
- Guaranteed archival quality for 100+ years
- 30x40cm and 42x59.4cm print size (limited run of 100), dimensions include border for easy framing
- Delivered to your door, supplied unframed
- Printed in the UK by theprintspace
- Global shipping available
