Muhammad Ali Exhibition at The O2, London - Preview

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Fri 04 Mar 2016 - Wed 31 Aug 2016

The extraordinary life and career of Muhammad Ali, the world's most famous heavyweight boxer, will be showcased at a new exhibition opening at London's O2 from March 4, 2016.

I Am The Greatest, which runs at The O2 until August 31, tells Muhammad Ali's story, from his humble beginnings in Kentucky where he was known as 'The Louisville Lip', to becoming one of the most recognisable sports figures of the 20th Century.



The exhibition features more than 100 artefacts, including previously unseen footage, photographs and rare personal memorabilia, taking visitors through Ali's incredible journey.

A full size boxing ring, positioned at the front of the exhibition, provides an interactive experience through which visitors get an up close and personal look at Muhammad Ali's incomparable work ethic and revolutionary boxing techniques.

Ali artefacts on show include:

• His 'Two Time World Champion' ring from 1974 and 'Three Times World Champion' ring from 1978;





• Ali's 1980 headgear inscribed to Sylvester Stallone;



• Torches and participation medals from the 1960 Rome Olympics, where Ali won the gold medal in the Light Heavyweight class in his last group of amateur fights.





Visitors can also see gold boxing gloves given to Elvis Presley and signed by Ali in 1973, boxing shorts and boxing gloves, signed in 2007 as 'Cassius Clay', Muhammad Ali's replacement passport issued in Ireland in 1973 and the 'Seconds Out' clock from the fight between Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper at Wembley Arena in 1963.

The exhibition reveals the stories behind Ali's refusal to join the American military fighting in the Vietnam war and subsequent struggle to be accepted back into the boxing world. His religious conversion and his interactions with some of the world's most powerful and influential leaders, including Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Saddam Hussein and Leonid Brezhnev during the height of the Cold War, are all covered.

The ex-boxer's wife, Lonnie Ali, says: "Muhammad and I are very excited to be part of a project that will connect Muhammad with a whole new generation of fans. The O2 has done an incredible job working with the Muhammad Ali Center to share Muhammad's legacy and ideals with audiences around the world. The family is anticipating that we will attend this tremendous celebration of the six core principles that shaped his life."



Davis Miller, co-curator of the exhibition and author of the new book, Approaching Ali, adds: "Nothing like this exhibition has been done before. The goal is for each and every visitor to come away feeling that they have spent serious time in the company of - and sharing stories with - this singular and extraordinary man.

''I have had the privilege and the good fortune to get to know Ali quite well over the last 30 years, and have tried to share those personal experiences, providing what I hope is an uncommonly multi-faceted understanding of Ali both in the exhibition and in the stories in my new book.''

Approaching Ali will be published on March 1.



I Am The Greatest: Muhammad Ali at The O2, North Greenwich
London SE10 0DX

Ticket prices:
Adult: £18 ( £2.75 booking fee)
Child: £9 ( £1.50 booking fee)
Concessions: £15 ( £2.50 booking fee)
Family: £36 ( £4.48 booking fee)
Coach parties/ Groups: £14.50

Opening times:
Monday – Friday: 10am to 5.30pm (last entry at 4pm)
Saturday – Sunday: 10am – 7pm (last entry at 5.30pm)

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!date 04/03/2016 -- 31/08/2016
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