In this previously unpublished photo-essay, the legendary boxer Muhammed Ali is captured up close and unguarded in the run-up to the "Rumble in the Jungle"
In October 1974, Muhammad Ali attempted to regain the world heavyweight boxing championship title that was stripped from him when he refused the Vietnam draft seven years earlier. He faced the brutal, undefeated George Foreman in Zaire, Africa, the fight he had dubbed “The Rumble in The Jungle.” Only weeks before, on August 11–12, photographer Peter Angelo Simon was invited to experience the private world of one of the most famous people on the planet as he prepared mentally and physically for the biggest challenge of his life.
This two-day photo-essay includes many previously unpublished photographs and captures Ali the man, unguarded, away from the glare of the media spotlight at his Pennsylvania sanctuary. It includes a foreword by D.A. Pennebaker, the foremost chronicler of American counterculture in the 1960s, and an introduction by Peter Angelo Simon, who writes: “I shot 33 rolls in the two days. Ali said nobody had ever taken so many pictures of him. I believe these photographs reveal aspects of Ali’s fascinating character not previously seen.” Few photographers got as close to the boxer behind the legend. This extraordinary book reveals the preparation for a seminal moment in cultural and political history.
Peter Angelo Simon has explored many forms of photographic expression in his wide-ranging career. His work has been featured in books, advertising campaigns, corporate communication, and magazines worldwide, including the New York Times Magazine. His photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally, including the Smithsonian.
D. A. Pennebaker is an American documentary filmmaker and foremost chronicler of American counterculture in the sixties.
Featured image is reproduced from Muhammad Ali: Fighter's Heaven 1974.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
The New Yorker
Ian Crouch
Ali was never merely a subject of photographers, or writers, or of the dreams of the people who idolized him. He was vitally present, like a magician, conjuring all the amazing sights himself.
The Guardian
Intimate and candid shots of Ali, most of them previously unseen...
Village Voice
Danny King
Collectively, the photographs speak to one of the most affectionate components of the Ali mystique.
American Photo
Jack Crager
Ali was right about one thing when he proclaimed "I'm pretty!" His charisma and physicality shine through this collection of pictures from August 1974, when he was at the height of his force and fame... Completed just as the champ passed away, this book is a time-capsule reminder of Ali's unique powers.
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Reel Art Press presents a book trailer with Peter Angelo Simon, who launches his new book of photographs of Muhammad Ali training for the Rumble in the Jungle this Thursday night at Greenlight Bookstore! continue to blog
This photograph of Muhammad Ali at his rural Pennsylvania boxing camp, Fighter's Heaven, during training for The Rumble in the Jungle—his legendary 1974 heavyweight title bout with arch-rival George Foreman in Zaire, Africa—was taken by photographer Peter Angelo Simon on assignment for the New York Times. It is reproduced from Reel Art Press' superb new collection of almost entirely unpublished photographs from this two-day encounter between Ali and Simon. The book was on press at the time of Ali's death in June of this year, according to publisher Tony Nourmand, whom we interviewed last month. In his Foreword filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker writes, "What Peter did with his camera at Deer Lake in August of 1974 lets us experience Muhammad Ali's private world in a way not seen before." continue to blog
When photographer Peter Angelo Simon visited Muhammad Ali at his Pennsylvania training camp in 1974, he shot 33 rolls of film—adding up to 1080 individual frames—in just two days. According to Ali, no one had ever taken so many pictures of him. Of these, three or four were published by The New York Times immediately. A handful more were published over the next 40 years. The remainder were scoured by Simon and Reel Art Press editor and publisher Tony Nourmand and whittled down to the selection of 105 black-and-white images that are collected in Muhammad Ali: Fighter's Heaven 1974. Here, Ali appears with his trainer in the gym's ring. continue to blog
Featured image is reproduced from Muhammad Ali: Fighter's Heaven 1974, Reel Art Press' remarkable new collection of mostly unpublished photographs of Ali in training by Peter Angelo Simon, which was on press at the time of Ali's death this summer. In his June 8 New Yorker review of the book, Ian Crouch cites Bob Dylan: "'If the measure of greatness is to gladden the heart of every human being on the face of the earth, then he truly was the greatest. In every way he was the bravest, the kindest and the most excellent of men.'” Simon's book captures this spirit in every way. continue to blog
Thursday, August 25 at 7:30 PM, Greenlight Bookstore presents photographer Peter Angelo Simon, speaking on his remarkable two-day photoshoot with Muhammad Ali training for the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle" with George Foreman in Zaire, Africa. A selection of the resulting photographs are collected in Muhammad Ali: Fighter's Heaven 1974, just out from Reel Art Press. Book signing and drinks to follow Simon's visual presentation. continue to blog
Wednesday September 7th, from 6-8 PM, Rizzoli Bookstore, Reel Art Press and ARTBOOK | D.A.P. present photographer Peter Angelo Simon in conversation with Rolling Stone deputy photo editor Sacha Lecca, in celebration of
Muhammad Ali: Fighter's Heaven 1974, Simon's new book of photographs with Foreword by D.A. Pennebaker. continue to blog
FORMAT: Hbk, 8.5 x 11 in. / 176 pgs / 105 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $49.95 LIST PRICE: CANADA $67.5 ISBN: 9781909526389 PUBLISHER: Reel Art Press AVAILABLE: 8/23/2016 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: In stock TERRITORY: NA LA ASIA AFR ME
Muhammad Ali: Fighter's Heaven 1974 Photographs by Peter Angelo Simon
Published by Reel Art Press. Foreword by D.A. Pennebaker.
In this previously unpublished photo-essay, the legendary boxer Muhammed Ali is captured up close and unguarded in the run-up to the "Rumble in the Jungle"
In October 1974, Muhammad Ali attempted to regain the world heavyweight boxing championship title that was stripped from him when he refused the Vietnam draft seven years earlier. He faced the brutal, undefeated George Foreman in Zaire, Africa, the fight he had dubbed “The Rumble in The Jungle.” Only weeks before, on August 11–12, photographer Peter Angelo Simon was invited to experience the private world of one of the most famous people on the planet as he prepared mentally and physically for the biggest challenge of his life.
This two-day photo-essay includes many previously unpublished photographs and captures Ali the man, unguarded, away from the glare of the media spotlight at his Pennsylvania sanctuary. It includes a foreword by D.A. Pennebaker, the foremost chronicler of American counterculture in the 1960s, and an introduction by Peter Angelo Simon, who writes: “I shot 33 rolls in the two days. Ali said nobody had ever taken so many pictures of him. I believe these photographs reveal aspects of Ali’s fascinating character not previously seen.” Few photographers got as close to the boxer behind the legend. This extraordinary book reveals the preparation for a seminal moment in cultural and political history.
Peter Angelo Simon has explored many forms of photographic expression in his wide-ranging career. His work has been featured in books, advertising campaigns, corporate communication, and magazines worldwide, including the New York Times Magazine. His photographs have been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally, including the Smithsonian.
D. A. Pennebaker is an American documentary filmmaker and foremost chronicler of American counterculture in the sixties.
