Thursday, 3 March 2016

MUHAMMAD ALI'S LIFE IN EXHIBITION


Image result for pic of muhammad ali  Image result for pic of muhammad ali

A general view of the 'I Am The Greatest' exhibition at London's O2 Arena which opens its doors to the public on Friday
A general view of the 'I Am The Greatest' exhibition at London's O2 Arena which opens its doors to the public on Friday

Muhammad Ali 'I Am The Greatest' exhibition prepares to open its doors with gloves worn in Henry Cooper bout the star attraction... now read the legendary boxer's typically mischievous epilogue

  • 'I Am The Greatest', the new exhibition about Muhammad Ali's life, opens its doors on Friday at London's O2
  • A battered pair of old boxing gloves, which he wore in bout with Henry Cooper, is the most eye-catching exhibit
  • It's the glove allegedly slit open by his also-iconic trainer, Angelo Dundee, to buy more recovery time him in 1963
  • Legendary boxer was sent crashing onto his backside by Cooper but he went on to beat Britain's best-loved boxer
  • The 74-year-old is battling Parkinson's disease and he could not attend the opening at the O2 Arena
  • There is a little hope that he may make the flight to London before the exhibition closes at the end of August
  • He didn't come, he didn't see it but, as ever, he conquered all.
    Muhammad Ali's presence surrounded and pervaded us at the preview of 'I Am The Greatest,' the new exhibition about his life which opens on Friday at London's O2 Arena.
    For English gentlemen of uncertain age, such as myself, the most eye-catching exhibit was not the largest, an above life-size bronze statue, nor the most extravagant, the gold-embossed gown he gave to Elvis Presley.


The legendary American boxer has penned his own profoundly eloquent and typically mischievous epilogue, which is pictured above



A statue of the legendary boxer is displayed - and there is plenty of memorabilia on show including artefacts which trace his journey 

A general view of the iconic battered pair of old boxing gloves which were allegedly slit open when Clay was on the brink of losing 

It is a battered pair of old boxing gloves with the horse-hair padding protruding from a gap in the side of one of them.
That is the glove allegedly slit open by Ali's also-iconic trainer, Angelo Dundee, to buy more recovery time for the-then Cassius Clay after he was knocked down by Henry Cooper.
At Wembley Stadium on that June night in 1963 Cooper came within seconds of changing the course of ring history.

A case containing a 'People's Choice' robe presented to Ali by the late music legend Elvis Presley is polished ahead of exhibition opening

British heavyweight boxer David Haye, who has recently returned to the ring, poses for a picture with the gloves worn by Clay in 1963

A curator polishes a replica of the Cassius Clay 1964 Championship belt, which he claimed after he defeated Sonny Liston

A pair of signed boots worn by Ali in fight with Jimmy Young in 1976, where Ali was awarded controversial one-sided unanimous decision

The words 'Float like a butterfly sting like a bee' and 'Ali' are displayed on the back of the robe which was worn by corner man Brown

MUHAMMAD ALI: TALE OF THE TAPE 

Nickname: The Greatest 
Ali is gagged with a piece of tape and a padlock in 1963 
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Ali is gagged with a piece of tape and a padlock in 1963 
Born: 14 January 1942 - Louisville, Kentucky, USA 
Weight: 14st 6lb (heavyweight)
Stance: Orthodox 
Height: 6ft 3in
Reach: 79in
Chest: 44.5in
Waist: 34in
Thigh: 25in
Fist: 13in
Calf: 17in
Biceps: 15in
OVERALL RECORD
Fights: 61
Wins: 56
KOs: 37
Losses: 5
TITLES
WBC, WBA, The Ring world heavyweight champion
NABF heavyweight champion
Olympic gold medal, Rome 1960
A LIFE LESS ORDINARY 
# After being born Cassius Clay, he converted to Islam in 1974 and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
# He remains the only three-time 'lineal' world heavyweight boxing champion.
# Ali was stripped of his world title after refusing conscription to the US military for the Vietnam War. He was arrested and did not fight again for four years. His conviction was later overturned by the US Supreme Court.
# He was known as much for his trash-talking as for his expoits in the ring. The Thrilla in Manila derived its name from Ali's controversial taunting of Joe Frazier: 'It will be a killa and a thrilla and a chilla when I get the Gorilla in Manila.'
# After winning gold at the 1960 Olympics, he threw his medal into the Ohio river in protest against racism after being refused service at a diner.
# Among many awards and honours, Ali was crowned 'Sportsman of the Century' by Sports Illustrated and 'Sports Personality of the Century' by the BBC.

Ali (centre), pictured alongside Larry Holmes (left) and George Foreman, was not well enough to travel for the opening of the exhibition 
Ali (centre), pictured alongside Larry Holmes (left) and George Foreman, was not well enough to travel for the opening of the exhibition 


ALI'S EPILOGUE ON DISPLAY AT THE 'I AM THE GREATEST' EXHIBITION AT LONDON'S O2 ARENA

'I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times. 
Who was humorous and who treated everyone right. 
As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him. 
And who helped as many people as he could. 
As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. 
As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. 
And if all that's too much then I guess I'd settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. 
And I wouldn't even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was. 
Be cool and look out for the ladies!'
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