Big Champ

Thomas Hoepker, a member of Magnum Photos, had the opportunity to spend time with Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali and take photographs in 1960 when he won the a gold medal at the Rome Olympics, in 1966 when Ali was world heavyweight champion already, in 1970 when he restarted his career and prepared himself for the “Fight of the Century” against Joe Frazier, and years later when he was already weakened by Parkinson's disease. Many of these pictures have become photographic icons. But many photographs in this book are lesser known or have been unseen until now. They show Ali in private moments and public appearances outside of the ring.

Big Champ is not a biography, but a book that highlights excerpts from a most unusual life. Together with Ali's loudmouthed, but always profound and original sayings, Big Champ provides a shimmering portrait of a fascinating and contradictory personality. Along the way we also experience something about the pervasive racism of his time in the U.S., Ali's connection to the Black Muslims, and his role in overcoming the racial desegregation.