The Greatest: My Own Story.

ALI, Muhammad .

Item Number: 133668

New York: Random House, 1975.

First edition of Ali’s autobiography Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author and additionally by his brother Rahman Ali who was also a heavyweight boxer on the front free endpaper, “To James Vogler from Muhammad Ali Nov 7- 85.”  Edited by Toni Morrison. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Aulicino. Written with Richard Durham.

"The Brown Bomber" Joe Louis reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, during which he participated in 27 championship fights and was victorious in 25 consecutive title defenses. Nicknamed "The Greatest", American heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali later reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1964 to 1967, 1974 to 1978, and for a final reign from 1978 to 1978. In an interview with Arsenio Hall in the late 1980s, former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stated that his two biggest influences in boxing were Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Louis. in The Greatest, Ali chronicles the battles he faced both in and out of the ring. Growing up in the South, surrounded by racial bigotry and discrimination, Ali fought not just for a living, but also for respect and rewards far more precious than money or glory. Ali redefined what it meant to be an athlete by giving hope to millions around the world and inspiring us all to fight for what is important to us.