Historic ties bind the city of Miami Beach to the iconic boxer Muhammad Ali, who claimed his first world heavyweight championship win at the Miami Beach Convention Center back in 1964. The fight against defending champ Sonny Liston boosted Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, to global fame and brought us the renowned post-fight declaration, “I shook up the world!”
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of this blockbuster fight, an exhibition honoring Muhammad Ali has been orchestrated by the Washington Avenue Business Improvement District and HistoryMiami Museum. Set in motion from Friday, February 23, till Monday, April 1, the exhibit will take place at 555 Washington Ave., a site selected for its past as the location of the 5th Street Gym where Ali trained extensively.
Opening procedure attendees comprise Muhammad Ali’s friend and “Soul Man” singer Sam Moore and members of Ali’s family. According to Troy Wright, executive director of the Washington Avenue Business Improvement District, the 60th-anniversary celebration of the Ali’s victory wouldn’t be overlooked. Despite only two and a half months’ work, the exhibit looks as though a year of work was poured into it.
The exhibit charts the progress of Ali’s life, from 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, to 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona, through photographs, videos, and artifacts. It includes a section of nearly 50 photos captured by Miami Herald photographers on the eve of Ali’s fight with Liston in Miami Beach, besides the iconic underwater photo of Ali by Flip Schulke.
Visitors to the exhibit can also expect to see a boxing ring never used by Ali, a courtesy of Everlast, that will serve as a photographic hot-spot in the middle of the exhibit. Noteworthy items such as Ali’s robes, shoes, and championship belts will be on display. It also features the scale used for Ali-Liston pre-battle weigh-ins.
The celebration of Ali’s life and legacy will extend beyond just the exhibit premises. Documentaries like When We Were Kings (1996) and Muhammad Ali (2021) will be aired for free on February 24 at O Cinema. An official Muhammad Ali Day in Miami is to follow on February 25.
The organizers aim for the overall event to enlighten those unfamiliar with Ali’s life and to provide a nostalgic journey for those who witnessed Ali’s unrivaled reign unfold. The profound impact of Ali is evident even during the exhibit’s setup, with an instance of one worker reminiscing about how Ali had influenced his life.
Muhammad Ali 60th Anniversary. Opens on Friday, February 23, and extends to Monday, April 1, at 555 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; washavemb.com. Tickets range from $15 to $25 and are available on eventbrite.com.
