Holiday Auction Closing December 3
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/4/2016
Offered here is a canvas print of the famous Muhammad Ali Beatles photograph signed by Muhammad Ali when his legal name was Cassius Clay. The canvas depicts Muhammad Ali, dressed in only a pair of white Everlast boxing shorts and wearing black boxing gloves, playfully throwing a right jab at all the Beatles lined up in a row. Ali’s fist is connecting with George Harrison’s head, and all the members of the Beatles are exaggeratedly recoiling from Ali’s punch like a row of human dominoes. After the photograph was taken, Ali asked the photographer “Who were these little sissies?”, unaware that the men who he had so recently posed with would go on to become the most legendary musicians of the 20th century.
The photograph was taken on February 18, 1964, by Robert Lipsyte. Ali, at the time still known as Cassius Clay, was in Miami Beach training for his upcoming fight with Sonny Liston. This match, one of the greatest and most controversial sporting events of the 20th century, ended with Liston surrendering to a faster, stronger, and more driven Ali in the 7th round. This canvas is signed with the name Cassius Clay, not Muhammad Ali, in silver Sharpie pen. Ali signed the 34 x 44 inch canvas on George Harrison’s leg. PSA/DNA graded the signature a 10, and the item comes with a PSA/DNA Letter of Grading and Authenticity (5A03937).