It was rarely known that famed boxer, Muhammad Ali liked to draw. Apart from being a beast in the ring, he was also a pretty good artist. 24 of his drawings and sketches are going up for auction. The auction will be held in New York and will be a golden opportunity for any fan to acquire a piece of Ali’s artistry. Some of these drawings have also been signed by Muhammad Ali, whereas some are unsigned. Some of them are cartoonish and a lot of them featuring the boxing ring as a setting for his drawing, others reflect his interest in religion and culture. One such popular piece which is named Sting Like a Bee, is also going to be at the auction. The drawing features two opponents within the ring and one of them yelling to the referee and saying, “Ref, he did float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
The staff at Bonhams who are organizing the auction think that this one piece of the drawing will sell for USD 40,000 – USD 60,000! The price may go higher, who knows!
The drawing has a lot more significance to it than the other pieces in the lot, as it was drawn during the filming of Freedom Road.
Since many of his fans were not aware of Muhammad Ali’s interest in art, a lot of the fans have been taken up by surprise and are apparently showing a lot of interest. Bonhams auctioneers report that they have been receiving very positive response.
“A lot of people are excited because no one knew he was an artist and no one knew about this treasure trove of artwork. So we’re seeing a lot of interest and a lot of excitement.”
Sketching was therapeutic for Muhammad Ali
Ali liked to draw between fights, whenever he used to get a little break. It would calm him down and help him unwind. All these pieces are coming to light thanks to Rodney Hilton Brown. Rodney was Ali’s partner and they have worked together on many art pieces.
Muhammad Ali was the former world heavyweight champion. He caused a media frenzy when he announced that he would be converting to Islam when he was at his peak. The legend did not have a happy ending as he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease later on in his life. In 2016, he breathed his last at the age of 74.
