Mohamed Ali Immortalized: USPS Launches Commemorative Stamps

Muhammad Ali Immortalized on Postage Stamps: A Tribute to “The Greatest”

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will honor the memory of the legendary boxer Mohamed Ali, considered one of the most influential athletes of all time, with the issuance of two commemorative stamps. These stamps will be available for purchase starting January 15, marking a significant tribute to almost a decade since his passing. The official launch ceremony will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, the hometown of the three-time world heavyweight champion, born in 1942 as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., according to the Mohamed Ali Cultural Center.

An Unforgettable Sporting and Human Legacy

The stamps feature an iconic image of Ali with his gloves in a guard position, accompanied by his last name “ALI” in red or black letters, depending on the version. The USPS has printed 22 million “Forever” stamps, which are permanently valid for first-class mail delivery.

“Someday I will be a postage stamp, because that’s the only way I’ll ever get a lick.”

Mohamed Ali

This initiative fulfills one of the most remembered phrases of Ali himself, who used to joke about the possibility of becoming a postage stamp.

An Unmatched Sporting Career

At the end, he finished his professional career with an impressive record of 56 wins and only five losses. He was crowned heavyweight world champion in 1964, 1974 and 1978, solidifying his status as one of the most dominant and charismatic figures in boxing history. Beyond his achievements in the ring, Ali was an influential voice in the civil rights movement, a promoter of peace, and a cultural ambassador globally. In 1998, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace and, in 2005, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.

A Global Icon

The Mohamed Ali Cultural Center emphasized that, in an era when African Americans were struggling to be heard, the boxer raised his voice with courage, defying established norms and becoming a symbol of dignity, justice, and freedom. In his later years, affected by Parkinson’s, Ali reduced his public appearances, but his cultural influence and legacy continued to grow, solidifying him as a universal icon that transcended sport.