Rare photographs of Muhammad Ali will go under the hammer in Wiltshire

Rare items relating to one of sports most popular icons, light heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali, are due to be sold in September by the team at RWB Auctions – in this Olympic and Paralympic year.

Muhammad Ali is ranked number two of the most popular sporting icons in the world. During his career he won 56 of his 61 professional fights, with 36 knock-outs. He also won an Olympic gold medal in the Rome games in 1960.

His most famous fights were against Henry Cooper in 1963 and 1966, Sonny Liston in 1964, Cleveland Williams in 1966, George Foreman in 1974, Joe Frazier in 1975. He passed away in June 2016 at the age of 74, still an icon to many.

A private seller, who does not wish to be named, has asked the team to sell the items which include:

Unpublished negatives and original test sheets: more than 200 candid shots with the transfer of copyrights, with a focus on Mohammad Ali.
Unique 35mm master film: An original unpublished advert of 2 mins 33 seconds for the entire reel including the official advert, two alternative adverts never used and a preamble from Muhammad Ali. (No copyrights sold with this.)
Signed memorabilia: A signed photo, signed paper and commemorative medal.

Edd Thomas of RWB Auctions said: “In this season of sporting prowess with this year’s Olympics and Paralympics, we are delighted to be offering such incredible lots featuring a prominent icon of the sporting world. His legacy and supremacy in the field of boxing remain an inspiration to many. It is our privilege to offer this unique collection of items to the world.”

Firstly, a unique original 35mm tape master copy of an advert recorded by Muhammad Ali in 1971 in England promoting Amstel Malta, a non-alcoholic beverage offered by Amstel. This footage depicts Ali in his classic boxing kit and quoting his own brand of poetry and fighting talk that made him famous. It was believed to have been shot only a few months after his ‘Fight of the Century’ match loss to Joe Frazier in 1971.

The advert was produced for the African market and was not shown in Europe as far as can be discerned. Although Ali was happy to work with many brands over his lifetime, he never promoted alcohol because it was against his religious beliefs.

Reputedly he only agreed to this Malta advert because it was non-alcoholic and for the African market. Only one other copy of the final advert is known to exist in the Amstel archive in 18mm format.

The unique master reel in this lot was shot by the seller’s production company and the seller also edited the reel back in 1971. This lot includes not only the final advert, which was aired but also several other differing variations that were not used and an informal chat where Ali is suggesting what he should say on camera.

Secondly, a unique and never-before-published set of more than 200 photographic negatives and test sheet images archiving the Muhammad Ali Amstel Malta advert session. These images are candid records of the event, mostly focusing on Ali. They were taken for the present owner who was commissioned to shoot the advert.

Finally, a signed photo, autograph and a Muhammad Ali commemorative medal dating to the mid-1970s. The present owner was given these when meeting Ali as a child.

These lots are included in RWB Auctions’ collectables sale on Wednesday 11 September or bidding can be via rwbauctions.com, The Saleroom, and EasyLive Auctions.