The story behind the collection
THE CHAMP-My Year With Muhammad Ali- 1977-1978
Michael Gaffney with Muhammad Ali at Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, 1977
I was a young news photographer in August 1977 when I loaded my Nikons into my Volkswagen and drove to Deer Lake, Pennsylvania to freelance photos of Muhammad Ali. He was the most famous, recognized person in the world and the greatest boxer in history, so I didn't know if I'd even get into the camp. I had my NYC press credentials around my neck and Gene Kilroy, Ali's business manager, brought me in to meet the Champ who was resting up in his locker room. Champ asked me my name and where I was from. I told him, "Mike Gaffney from Gamma Liaison International Photo Agency." Ali smiled and said, "Shoot all you want Mike." He was a rare subject in front of the camera, natural and free and loved being the most photographed person in the world. We were driving back after a pre-dawn training run around Deer Lake, when Champ said, "No man alive has run up my mountain." The camp sat at the top of a steep mountain almost a mile long. When he repeated the challenge again, I knew he must be talking to me because I was the only one in running clothes. So I told Bundini who was driving to stop the car. I got about halfway up the mountain and was exhausted but then realized the Heavyweight Champ of the World Muhammad Ali is lighting the way for me to run up his mountain and I had to keep going. Ali was the first one out of the car, "You're the only man alive to run up my mountain!"
A few days later, I went into Ali's office to tell him I was leaving to get back to my wife and job on the newspaper. Ali said, "No you can't leave, I want you to work for me." I said, "Champ what are you talking about, you have Howard, what do you need two photographers for?" Howard Bingham was Ali's best friend and lifelong personal photographer. Ali said, "Howard's running for Congress in LA and I need a photographer so my kids and family don't get bothered." I told him I needed to talk to my wife Debby and Ali said, "I'll make you an offer you can't refuse," in his best Marlon Brando voice. When I got back to Debby, she gave me her blessing, "This is an opportunity of a lifetime, if you don't go you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Debby's wisdom became bittersweet as she passed away in 1999 and this collection remains a tribute to her inspiration. She was right, I traveled the world, covered three fights and made 8,000 photographs of the Champ. It was the special access that the Champ gave me into his personal life that carried with it a responsibility for photojournalism to document Muhammad Ali that would stand the test of time and tell my story that became "The Champ-My Year With Muhammad Ali." Many of the photographs in the collection are also in the book.
So what began as a freelance photo assignment became a yearlong dream assignment as Muhammad Ali's personal photographer and memories for a lifetime. Imagine, Muhammad's daughter Hana was a two year old in the book and in the meantime grew up to write a beautiful tribute to her father in the foreword of "The Champ." It meant the world to me from the Ali family when Muhammad's wife Lonnie told me, "These are some of the most beautiful photographs of Muhammad ever made." These are the gifts to share with you of this extraordinary treasure, "The Greatest"...Muhammad Ali.
Live and Love,
Michael Gaffney
Muhammad Ali with Michael Gaffney in 1977 and Now
The Champ: My Year With Muhammad Ali Paperback – July 21, 2012 by Michael Gaffney (Author)
What was Muhammad Ali really like? Award winning photojournalist Michael Gaffney captures a rare insider's view of 100 photographs and intimate stories of Ali's world, as his personal photographer in 1977-1978. THE CHAMP is a journey with one of the most extraordinary treasures in our lifetime - Muhammad Ali, The Greatest. These moving stories of the legendary fighter- poignant, hilarious and authentic - are a loving tribute to Muhammad Ali that reveal a true courageous heart and go far beyond his glories in the ring. THE CHAMP is a perfect storytelling trilogy in the fighter's career: a tough win against Earnie Shavers, a shocking loss of the World Heavyweight Championship to Leon Spinks, and a glorious redemptive comeback victory against Spinks to win the title for an unprecedented third time. THE CHAMP sustains the legacy of Muhammad Ali who continues to inspire millions and make the world a better place. "Congratulations to you, Michael Gaffney. THE CHAMP is one helluva achievement and one helluva book." BERT RANDOLPH SUGAR, Hall of Fame Boxing Historian