He was the rare global icon who went from reviled to revered. An icon whose humanitarian efforts made him more popular post-career than during it. An icon who, as a young man, had the audacity to label himself The Greatest of All Time, and the talent to back it up.
But while much has been written and said about Muhammad Ali—both the boxer and the man—his remarkable-yet-complicated life remains a mystery to some or has been forgotten by others. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art aims to fix that through its newest exhibit, I Am the Greatest: Muhammad Ali, which runs through Sept. 30.
“This is the first of its kind in a way,” says Tarissa Tiberti, BGFA’s executive director, who worked in concert with Muhammad Ali Enterprises to stage the exhibit. “We’ve done objects shows before, like Fabergé or the Treasures from Chatsworth: A British Noble House. But this one displays memorabilia from (Ali’s) life and details these different key points.
“In terms of where we are in the world today—and not only the political climate, but everything—I think it’s important to look at how somebody came to greatness.”
In addition to inspirational quotes and mural-size photographs, I Am the Greatest features nearly three dozen pieces of Ali memorabilia, from signed boxing gloves, boots and trunks to a sequined robe gifted to him by Elvis Presley (complete with an itemized invoice from the robe’s designer).
But the first item that gallery visitors will encounter is arguably the most significant: a replica of the red Schwinn bicycle that was stolen from a 12-year-old Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) on a rainy night in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., in 1954. And as an inscription above the bike explains, it was the moment that set Ali on a path to boxing.
Upon learning of the theft, a tearful Ali walked into a nearby rec center, told a police officer what happened and said he’d whup the culprit if he ever found him.
“Do you know how to fight?” the officer asked. “You better learn to fight before you start fighting.”
That officer, Joe Martin, ended up serving as Ali’s first boxing coach. It’s a story Martin recounts in a vintage video clip that’s broadcast in an area that chronicles Ali’s impressive amateur boxing accomplishments.
As much as I Am the Greatest celebrates Ali’s legendary career in the ring—including descriptions and videos of his epic world championship fights against heavyweight boxing legends Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman—equal attention is also given to Ali’s humanitarianism and social activism.
Videos and texts explain Ali’s highly controversial conversion to Islam (which led to him renouncing his birth name) and his refusal to be drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War—a decision that cost the three-time world champion more than three years of his boxing career in his prime, not to mention legions of fans.
While weaving around the gallery, visitors are also introduced to the six core principles through which Ali lived: Confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality. The tour concludes in a room adjacent to the gallery, where a 20-minute video offers additional insight into the life and career of Ali, who, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease, died on June 3 at age 74.
That I Am the Greatest found a home at BGFA is appropriate, considering that Las Vegas has long been recognized as the Boxing Capital of the World. The city also hosted seven of Ali’s 61 professional fights (he won the first five before losing the final two).
“This exhibition wouldn’t necessarily work in every location,” Tiberti says. “And we wouldn’t just choose any famous athlete. But it seemed fitting to share the life of an athlete who is so widely appreciated throughout the world.
“Hopefully, visitors can come away from the exhibit and be inspired in some way.”
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, last admission at 7:30 p.m., $18, $16 seniors, $12 students, children 12 and under free, admission includes audio tour. 702.693.7871
