Behind the Lens: The Untold Story of Muhammad Ali at Miami’s 5th Street Gym
When photographer Chris Smith arrived in Miami in February 1964, he was there to capture The Beatles’ first major American tour. What he couldn’t have predicted was that he would document one of the most iconic moments in sports and music history—and spend the next several years creating what would become one of the finest photographic collections of Muhammad Ali ever assembled.
The Legendary 5th Street Gym: Where Champions Were Made
The 5th Street Gym wasn’t just any boxing gym. Founded by Chris Dundee in 1951 at 5th Street and Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, it quickly became known as the “University of Boxing.” This was where legends trained, where careers were forged, and where a young fighter named Cassius Clay would transform into Muhammad Ali.
The gym was overseen by Chris Dundee, nicknamed the “Wizard of Oz,” and his brother Angelo Dundee, the “Prince of Oz.” Together, they created an environment that produced countless world champions, including Carmen Basilio, Willie Pastrano, and of course, Muhammad Ali. The gym became a magnet for celebrities—Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Jackie Gleason, Malcolm X, The Beatles, Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra, and Sylvester Stallone all visited this hallowed space.
What made the 5th Street Gym special wasn’t its appearance—by all accounts, it was shabby and unkempt, located in a decayed area of Miami Beach after the money had moved north to the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc hotels. But the magic of the place was undeniable. As the gym’s trainer Sully Emmett managed the door, he would charge 25 cents to enter the gym, 50 cents when Ali trained, and $1 during major Ali pre-fight workouts. People gladly paid to witness greatness in the making.
Ali’s Training Rituals Captured Through Smith’s Lens
Chris Smith’s photographs from The Greatest offer an intimate look at Ali’s training regimen at the 5th Street Gym. Unlike posed publicity shots, Smith captured the raw intensity of Ali’s preparation—the sweat-soaked sessions on the heavy bag, the rhythmic skip rope work, the focused shadowboxing that demonstrated his legendary speed.
These weren’t just photographs of a boxer training. They were documents of a young athlete at the absolute peak of his physical powers, preparing for bouts that would define an era. Smith photographed Ali during his preparations for his first fight with Sonny Liston in 1964, a match where Ali was a 7-1 underdog. The confidence radiating from Ali in these images seems almost supernatural in hindsight—this was a man who knew he was destined for greatness.
The intimacy Smith achieved in his photographs came from his unique position. Unlike the crush of press photographers who would descend on Ali’s public workouts, Smith had ongoing access to the gym. He could capture quiet moments, unguarded expressions, and the daily discipline that underpinned Ali’s flashy public persona.
When Icons Collide: Ali Meets The Beatles
Perhaps the most famous photographs from Smith’s time at the 5th Street Gym are those documenting the February 18, 1964 meeting between Muhammad Ali and The Beatles. This encounter, captured by multiple photographers including Harry Benson and Chris Smith, has become one of the most iconic moments in both sports and music history.
The story behind the meeting is remarkable. The Beatles, in Miami for their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, initially approached heavyweight champion Sonny Liston for a photo opportunity. When Liston refused—reportedly throwing verbal jabs at the band—they recruited his opponent instead. For more details about this historic meeting, see The Beatles and Muhammad Ali: Iconic 1964 Meeting. Learn more about The Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show. Neither Ali nor The Beatles really knew much about each other at the time, a fact that seems astonishing given that both would become global cultural icons.
According to journalist Robert Lipsyte, who covered the event for The New York Times, the beginning was tense. Ali arrived extremely late, and The Beatles were locked in a dressing room against their will while they waited. They cursed and banged on the door, angry at being “abducted.” But when the towering Ali appeared in his boxing shorts, all four Beatles gasped in unison.
Ali quickly broke the ice: “Hello there, Beatles! We oughta do some road shows together. We’ll get rich!” (Other accounts report he said, “Hey, Beatles, let’s go make some money!”)
The resulting photographs show all five men goofing around in the gym. In one shot, the music group pretended to fall like dominoes after Ali mimed a punch toward George Harrison. Another image showed the boxer lifting Ringo Starr while his bandmates lay on the ground as if knocked out. At one point, Ali reportedly told The Beatles, “You ain’t as dumb as you look!” John Lennon fired back, “No. But you are!” After a brief awkward silence, everyone erupted in laughter.
Ali also improvised freestyle, according to a UPI reporter in the room: “When Liston reads about The Beatles visiting me / He’ll get so mad, I’ll knock him out in three!” In a major upset, Ali did defeat Liston—though it took seven rounds, not three—and declared himself “the Greatest.”
The photographs from this encounter have sold at major auction houses for tens of thousands of pounds. A Chris Smith photograph titled ‘Ali and The Beatles’ from 1964 sold for £40,640 at auction, well above its estimate of £15,000-£20,000. You can view more of Chris Smith’s auction results at Artsy. These images continue to appreciate in value because they capture a unique moment when two cultural phenomena intersected.
The Photographer’s Perspective
Chris Smith, born in 1937, brought a unique eye to sports photography. Originally from Britain, Smith was in the United States to photograph The Beatles’ first major American tour when he stumbled upon Ali training at the 5th Street Gym. What began as a serendipitous encounter developed into a years-long project documenting Ali at the height of his career.
Smith’s photographs, collected in his book The Greatest, span from the early days of Ali’s career through his final years before retirement. The images are paired with Smith’s own recollections, providing context and insight into the moments captured. Critics have praised Smith’s work as “startlingly innovative and engaging,” noting his ability to capture “the grit and gloss of life.”
What distinguishes Smith’s Ali photographs is their intimacy and immediacy. These aren’t distant action shots from ringside. They’re close-up portraits that reveal Ali’s personality—his confidence, his playfulness, his intensity, his humanity. Smith captured Ali shadowboxing with focused determination, horsing around with The Beatles, and in countless quiet moments that reveal the man behind the legend.
Why These Photographs Matter Today
The photographs in The Greatest are more than sports memorabilia. They’re historical documents of one of the 20th century’s most important athletes during a pivotal period in American history. Ali transcended boxing to become a civil rights icon, a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and a global symbol of Black pride and resistance.
Smith’s photographs from the mid-1960s capture Ali before his name change, before his championship years, before his exile from boxing, and before his eventual return and redemption. They show us a young man on the cusp of greatness, unaware of the trials and triumphs that lay ahead.
For collectors and admirers of Ali, these limited edition prints offer a way to own a piece of that history. Published by GOST Books in association with Alon Zakim Fine Art, The Greatest special edition features nearly 100 photographs, each a window into Ali’s world. The prints available from this collection are museum-quality silver gelatin prints, signed and numbered by Chris Smith, ensuring their authenticity and lasting value.
As sports photography continues to emerge as a significant investment class—with vintage photographs regularly selling for tens of thousands of dollars at auction—Chris Smith’s Ali photographs represent both cultural significance and appreciating value. They capture not just a boxer, but an icon. Not just a moment, but an era. Not just images, but history itself.
To view and purchase limited edition prints from Chris Smith’s legendary collection of Muhammad Ali photographs, visit muhammadaliprints.com. Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity and is part of a strictly limited edition.
Further Resources
For a fascinating visual look at this historic meeting, watch The Beatles Meeting Muhammad Ali – 18 February 1964 on YouTube.