Behind every great photography book lies a story of how the images came to be. Muhammad Ali — The Greatest, published by GOST in collaboration with Alon Zakaim Fine Art, is no exception. The book brings together nearly 100 photographs by Chris Smith, accompanied by two illuminating essays from writer Paolo Hewitt and gallerist Alon Zakaim that place Smith’s work within the broader context of boxing history and fine art photography.
Paolo Hewitt on the Photographer and His Subject
Paolo Hewitt’s essay traces the remarkable story of how a young British photographer found himself at the centre of Ali’s world during the 1960s and 1970s. Hewitt explores Smith’s journey from Fleet Street to Miami’s 5th Street Gym, where he first encountered Ali preparing for the fight that would make him heavyweight champion of the world.
Hewitt draws on Smith’s own recollections of those early days in Miami, the electric atmosphere of the gym, and the extraordinary access Ali granted to a photographer he clearly trusted. The essay reveals how Smith navigated the complex dynamics of Ali’s entourage, earning his place through patience, discretion, and an instinct for capturing the quiet moments rather than the obvious ones.
For more on Smith’s unique approach to photographing Ali, see our detailed article on The Photographer’s Perspective, which explores how he elevated sports photography into fine art.
The 5th Street Gym and the Birth of a Legacy
Both essayists return repeatedly to the significance of Miami’s 5th Street Gym as the crucible where Ali’s legend was forged. It was here that Smith captured some of his most iconic images — Ali shadow boxing in the morning light, sparring with partners who would later become champions themselves, and famously meeting The Beatles in February 1964.
The gym itself was a modest, sweltering space above a pharmacy on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. Yet within its walls, the greatest fighter of the twentieth century honed his craft under the watchful eyes of trainer Angelo Dundee. Smith’s photographs document this world with an intimacy that no other photographer achieved.
Our articles on The Legendary 5th Street Gym and Miami Mornings with The Champ explore these locations in greater depth.
Alon Zakaim: The Collector’s Eye
Alon Zakaim’s essay brings the perspective of a gallerist and fine art specialist who has worked with Smith’s archive for many years. Zakaim makes the case for these photographs not merely as sports memorabilia, but as significant works of twentieth-century documentary photography that deserve recognition alongside the great photojournalists of the era.
Zakaim contextualises Smith’s Ali photographs within the broader market for vintage sports photography, noting the growing appetite among collectors for images that capture cultural moments rather than simply athletic ones. The essay traces how Smith’s work has moved from newspaper archives to gallery walls, commanding prices at Sotheby’s and Phillips that reflect their status as fine art.
From Contact Sheets to Collector’s Editions
One of the most fascinating elements of the book is the inclusion of contact sheets — the raw, unedited film strips that show every frame Smith shot during his sessions with Ali. These contact sheets reveal the photographer’s working method: the sequences of frames that led to the single iconic image, the near-misses, and the unexpected compositions that were never published.
For collectors, contact sheets hold particular significance. They demonstrate provenance, show the breadth of a photographer’s archive, and often contain undiscovered images that may be more powerful than the celebrated selections. The contact sheets in this book include frames from Deer Lake training sessions, fight night at Madison Square Garden, and the quiet moments that defined Ali’s daily routine.
The Book as a Collector’s Item
Muhammad Ali — The Greatest is published in a limited edition by GOST Books, one of the most respected independent photography publishers in the United Kingdom. GOST’s reputation for producing beautifully printed, thoughtfully designed photography books ensures that this volume will itself become a sought-after collector’s item.
The book accompanies a set of ten limited-edition signed prints, each produced to the highest archival standards on museum-quality paper. Together, the book and prints form a comprehensive record of Smith’s decades-long documentation of Ali — from the youthful confidence of the Beatles encounter to the poignant final chapters of the Holmes fight.
To enquire about the book and print collection, please contact us. You can also read more about why these photographs matter today and explore our full archive of Ali’s ringside story.