Muhammad Ali Signed and Inscribed Copy of The Quran, 1975

ALI, MUHAMMAD. Book Signed and Inscribed, “To Drew Bundini Brown / From / Muhammad Ali / Your Brother / Make your life, / for the work of / Allah / 20/6/75 / Peace + Love / Forever”. The Holy Quran, Text Translation & Commentary, Lahore, 1973, Volume I of II, 748 pp., 7" x 10.5". Original blue cloth boards, Very Good.

Presentation copy inscribed by Muhammad Ali to his friend, trainer, corner man, adviser, and phrase-coiner, Drew “Bundini” Brown. Drew Brown joined Ali’s camp in 1963 and was with the champion for virtually his entire career. He served in Ali’s corner in all of Ali’s great fights. Brown is credited with helping Ali craft some of his most memorable lines, including the famous, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”.

From a New York Times article in 1987, “They were boxing’s best duet. Before or after a sparring session, or when the television cameras were on, or whenever the occasion called for some noise, Muhammad Ali and Drew Brown would shout, ‘Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Rumble, young man, rumble.’ After a pause, they would roar, ‘Aaargh’, and break up in laughter. And upon seeing each other in recent years, they would recreate the act they had developed in 1964 just before the boxer then known as Cassius Clay dethroned Sonny Liston as the world heavyweight champion.”

The conversion of Olympic and professional boxing champion Cassius Clay to Islam in 1964, the changing of his “slave name”, and Ali’s subsequent refusal to serve in Vietnam were landmark events in the Civil Rights movement. For decades, Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most recognized person in the world, was the most prominent Muslim in America.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses

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