Award-winning photojournalist Michael Gaffney was the personal photographer to Muhammad Ali from 1977-1978, amassing over 8,000 photographs and countless hours of tape recordings. Piecing together over 100 rare insider photos from his collection, along with transcriptions from his recordings, Gaffney presents an authentic and unique visual look back at Ali in his images, which are now compiled in his book THE CHAMP: My Year with Muhammad Ali.
The images featured here are now available through SFAE in a special limited edition print offer which includes a 1st edition copy of THE CHAMP, signed by the author, with any print purchase.
Michael Gaffney began his career as a New Jersey news photographer in 1972. He became Muhammad Ali's personal photographer in 1977, traveling around the world, and covering 3 fights through 1978. In 2009, Gaffney held the first exhibition of his collection: Muhammad Ali - The Champ, at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ to benefit the Morristown Neighborhood House where Gaffney learned to box as a young boy. It was very well received, earning a feature on ESPN with Hall of Fame Boxing Historian, Bert Randolph Sugar. It was followed by exhibitions around the world including at the London Olympics and the "Ali in the Rings" exhibition in Bradford, UK.
He and his wife Joanna live in Mendham, NJ and Sunriver, OR. Michael has three children, Ian, Cara and Patrick. Joanna has two children, Ana and John.
All images © Michael Gaffney 1978. All rights reserved.