LeRoy Neiman, a vibrant watercolor and sketch artist, met Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) at the beginning of Ali’s career, in 1962 at the former St. Nicholas Arena in New York City (an ice skating/boxing rink). The two struck up a lifelong friendship. Some artworks in the exhibit, created from ringside impromptu sketches, are collaged with Neiman’s tickets or scorecards, all capturing Ali’s energy. Sometimes Ali even added his own quotes.
In one (left), Neiman captured Ali beating Sonny Liston in 1965. Neiman captured Ali in 1974 regaining his championship form against George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle” match in Zaire.
He was also there for Ali’s return to beat Frazier in 1975, dubbed the “Thrilla in Manila” (above). “It will be a killer and a chiller, and a thrilla, when I get the gorilla, in Manilla,” Ali rhymed.