Muhammad Ali once said, “I should be a postage stamp, because that's the only way I'll ever get licked.” Now the former heavyweight great will get his wish.
Ali will be featured for the first time on a U.S. stamp next year, the United States Postal Service announced Monday. The stamp will be on display on Thursday, January 15 at an event celebrating the first day of issue, which takes place at noon at the L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali, who was the first boxer to ever hold the heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, died in 2016 at the age of 74. During his lifetime, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian honor in the United States – and was named a Messenger of Peace by the United Nations. But until now, he had never appeared on a stamp in his home nation.
The Muhammad Ali “forever” stamps are available for pre-order now, with a sheet of 20 stamps priced at $15.60. There will be two versions issued, both bearing a black-and-white photo of Ali taken by the Associated Press in 1974, the year he became heavyweight champion a second time after knocking out the previously undefeated George Foreman.
Antonio Alcalá, the art director for the stamp, said the USPS reviewed hundreds of images before deciding on which photo to use.
“At a time when African Americans fought to have a voice, he spoke loud and clear about his beliefs, defying expectations, and empowering people around the world on his way to becoming a globally celebrated cultural icon,” said Alcalá. “His influence is felt in hip-hop, politics, and the American lexicon. He became the face of Islam to millions of Americans and an ambassador of peace between the East and West.”
Ali first appeared on a postage stamp in 1971, when Bahrain, in its first year as an independent nation, featured Ali on a stamp commemorating his 1960 Olympic gold medal.
“Muhammad Ali’s life was defined not only by his victories but by his conviction, generosity and enduring belief in the power of love and humanity,” reads a statement from the United States Postal Service. “His spirit continues to inspire people everywhere, and his legacy lives on as ‘The Greatest.’”
