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Neil Leifer's Boxing Celebrates 60 Years of Fight Photography

By Alvin Ward

Sonny Liston (L) and Muhammad Ali (R) duke it out in 1964 in one of photographer Neil Leifer's legendary photos.
Sonny Liston (L) and Muhammad Ali (R) duke it out in 1964 in one of photographer Neil Leifer's legendary photos. / Courtesy of Neil Leifer/Taschen/© Authentic Brands Group
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One of the most famous men in the world, the late Muhammad Ali, was photographed tens of thousands of times throughout his boxing career. But one image stands alone as the most well-known and resonant. It’s the photo of Ali standing over foe Sonny Liston in 1965, taunting him to rise from the canvas.

Muhammad Ali taunts Sonny Liston during their rematch in 1965.
Muhammad Ali taunts Sonny Liston during their rematch in 1965. / Courtesy of Neil Leifer/Taschen/© Authentic Brands Group

The photo was captured by Neil Leifer, a boxing photographer whose career has spanned 60 years and who has found countless novel ways to chronicle the grace of the athletes occupying the ring. In a new book, Leifer. Boxing. 60 Years of Fights and Fighters ($1000), TASCHEN has assembled Leifer’s most incredible shots in a package weighing in at nearly 20 pounds.

Neil Leifer. Boxing. 60 Years of Fights and Fighters chronicles dozens of important bouts over the decades.
Neil Leifer. Boxing. 60 Years of Fights and Fighters chronicles dozens of important bouts over the decades. / Courtesy of Neil Leifer/Taschen/© Authentic Brands Group

Leifer took his first shot at the age of 16, when he attended a bout between Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson at Yankee Stadium. That kicked off a career covering prizefighting, with Leifer at ringside for most of the major boxing bouts of the past 60 years.

Muhammad Ali walks away from Cleveland Williams in a shot captured by Leifer using a remote overhead camera.
Muhammad Ali walks away from Cleveland Williams in a shot captured by Leifer using a remote overhead camera. / Courtesy of Neil Leifer/Taschen/© Authentic Brands Group

Boxing also includes work from writers Gay Talese and Gabriel Schechter. The $1000 collector’s edition is limited to 1000 copies and each is signed by Leifer. It can be purchased on Taschen’s website. It will be available beginning December 15.

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