October 30, 1974, 4.30am, Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fight for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World. This October marks 50 years since one of the most iconic sporting events in history. Now, inspired by Thomas Hoepker, Howard L Bingham and Neil Leifer's Photography of Muhammad Ali, in a unique celebration of this historic event Matt Hooper Photography presents THE GREATEST.
Shot on location at Quinns Boxing Club in Springfield, Cupar Fife, and on the streets of Dundee, Kyle Moran features in a unique photoshoot. Date to be confirmed.
Thomas Hoepker's BIG CHAMP, a book first published in 2011 by Peperoni Books, is a collection of Hoepker's photography of Muhammad Ali from distinct periods of Ali's career. Hoepker, a member of Magnum Photos, had the opportunity to spend time with Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali and take photographs in 1960 when he won the a gold medal at the Rome Olympics, in 1966 when Ali was world heavyweight champion already, in 1970 when he restarted his career and prepared himself for the “Fight of the Century” against Joe Frazier, and years later when he was already weakened by Parkinson's disease. Many of these pictures have become photographic icons. But many photographs in this book are lesser known or have been unseen until now. They show Ali in private moments and public appearances outside of the ring.
Big Champ is not a biography, but a book that highlights excerpts from a most unusual life. Together with Ali's loudmouthed, but always profound and original sayings, Big Champ provides a shimmering portrait of a fascinating and contradictory personality. Along the way we also experience something about the pervasive racism of his time in the U.S., Ali's connection to the Black Muslims, and his role in overcoming the racial desegregation. https://www.magnumphotos.com/newsroom/champ-muhammad-ali/
Another legendary Photographer closely associated with Muhammad Ali, and the Rumble in the Jungle in particular, is Neil Leifer. Neil Leifer photographed Ali on more than 50 separate occasions, including most of his iconic fights. He took the legendary 'Phantom Punch' photograph with Ali stood over Sonny Liston, and captured the fights with Cleveland Williams, all three fights with Joe Frazier, and he was there for the Rumble in the Jungle. https://neilleifer.com/collections/muhammad-ali...
The Fight, a truly wonderful book published by Taschen, written by Norman Mailer, with photography by Leifer and Howard L Bingham, was released in 2022. The book exclusively focuses on the Rumble in the Jungle, and features many stunning images of both George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. https://www.taschen.com/.../norman-mailer-neil-leifer.../...
Howard L Bingham was the closest thing to a 'personal photographer' that Muhammad Ali had, and many of his images from the Rumble in the Jungle were exhibited by M+B Photo in Los Angeles in 2008. https://www.mbphoto.com/exhibitions/7/overview/
THE GREATEST, Celebrating 50 years since the Rumble in the Jungle, will take inspiration from both of these books, and wider photography of Ali by Hoepker and Leifer. Working with Tartan Models talent Kyle Moran, Matt Hooper Photography will bring their interpretation of an iconic sportsperson to life.
Matt Hooper Photography's previous collaborations with Kyle in Dundee https://charismabymh.com/editorial-kyle and Cupar https://charismabymh.com/modeltestshoots-kyle