Muhammad and LeRoy: A Friendship in Art

Artwork created by Muhammad Ali in which he used pencil, watercolor, and blue ink pen. A boxing ring is centered in the image surrounded by a large crowd indicated by circles, some filed with eyes and smiles and others with yellow, brown, black watercolor paint. In the ring, Muhammad drew himself punching Joe Frazier, who has blood painted coming out of his face. In the ring, Muhammad painted the words "Ali Frazier Oct-1-1975", the date of the bout. Beneath this, in blue ink, Muhammad wrote, "Round 3, To LeRoy Neiman From King Muhammad Ali, Sept 30-75, Time 6:05 pm."

The third fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was held on Wednesday, October 1, 1975, approximately 15 years after Ali’s debut as a professional boxer. Unlike the previous two fights, it was held in the Araneta/Philippines Coliseum in Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines. The fight was dubbed and history remembers it as the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ because of Muhammad’s chant that “It will be a killa and a chilla and a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila.” Muhammad won by technical decision after Frazier’s trainer pulled him out.

Donated to the Muhammad Ali Center in 2017 by the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation.