Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Twentieth Century (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Photographic paper, ink. 58.5 x 38.5 cm
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Archival history
31/08/2011
Content and structure area
Scope and content
A colour photograph of Muhammad Ali in his boxing gear and standing in a fighting stance outdoors with fields behind him. From Getty 'Muhammad Ali during training on 10 July 1972 for his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis held at Croke Park in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.'
Muhammad Ali fought Al Lewis in Croke Park in July 1972. The promoter Harry Conrad had always wanted to stage a heavyweight fight, and managed to convince Ali to fight Lewis in Dublin for $200,000. He is shown here training for the fight. Ticket sales were slow, but about 5,000 people managed to sneak in without paying. The fight itself was not very exciting – Lewis barely troubled Ali – but people were still thrilled to see Ali fight. Fans swamped the field around the ring and it took almost half an hour to clear a path back to the dressing rooms.