The Postal Service celebrated Muhammad Ali Jan. 15 at the dedication ceremony for the stamp honoring the three-time heavyweight boxing champion known as “The Greatest.”
At a time when African Americans fought to have a voice, Ali (1942-2016) spoke loud and clear about his beliefs, defying expectations and empowering people around the world on his way to becoming a globally beloved cultural icon.
“We remember Muhammad as more than a great boxer. We remember a man who dared to be bold, who stood firm when it was costly and who used his fame to improve humanity,” said Ron Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, who spoke at the ceremony at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
“Today, we honor a man who was far more than the world heavyweight boxing champion. We honor a man who reshaped sports, fought for his beliefs and became a symbol of courage, decency and love.”
The first global U.S. athlete of the television age, Ali — born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville — set the mold for future generations of athletes who speak out on social issues.
At 18, he won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. By the end of 1963, he had won all 19 of his professional fights.
With each win, his confidence grew, earning him the nickname “The Louisville Lip” for trash-talking his opponents with rhyming predictions about how many rounds it would take him to win.
In 1978, Muhammad Ali became a three-time heavyweight champion. After the fight, he announced his retirement, leaving his lifetime professional record at 56 wins and five losses, with 37 knockouts.
By the end of his boxing career, Muhammad Ali had become an inescapable cultural phenomenon. He later earned two spoken word Grammy nominations and starred on Broadway, TV and in movies.
In 1990, Ali helped secure the release of American hostages in Iraq. That same year, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
With his wife, Lonnie, Ali later opened the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville to create programs that promote respect, inspire change and advance social justice.
In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Other speakers at the stamp ceremony included Lonnie Ali, Ali’s widow and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center; Jacqueline Coleman, Kentucky’s lieutenant governor; Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg; Greg Fischer, a former mayor of Louisville; Neil Leifer, sports photographer and filmmaker; and John Ramsey and Peter Villegas, Muhammad Ali Center board members.
Sports commentator Bob Costas served as master of ceremonies.
The ceremony also included musical performances by Pat Mathison and Victory Brinker.
The stamp — which features a black-and-white photo of Ali in his boxing stance — is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and on usps.com.
