Jan. 28, 1971 Muhammad Ali/Joe Frazier Type I Original Photo by Official MSG Photographer George Kalinsky - One of Ali's Most Famous Images and a Defining Symbol of Their "Fight of the Century" - PSA/DNA

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Type: Type IYear of Image: 1971Year of Issue: 1971Issuer: United Press International (George Kalinsky)Size: 8 x 10Notes: Like Neil Leifer's shot of Muhammad Ali towering over Sonny Liston, this is photographer George Kalinsky’s Ali masterpiece.Everything there is to know about The Greatest, about Joe Frazier, about the "Fight of the Century" and about Kalinsky himself, is all right here. You've got Ali doing what he does best, mugging for the camera, showing his playful charisma, and psychologically tormenting his opponent. You've got Smokin' Joe demonstrating the poise, grit and stoicism that made him the perfect rival…and ultimately brought him a stunning defeat in Ali's prime. You've also got the trusted access and close bond of Kalinsky, who just prior had managed to put the fighters nose to nose and forehead to forehead with each other. In Frazier's own Philadelphia gym, no less. Enemy territory to Ali. Kalinsky had that kind of sway.He first met Muhammad in Miami on a lark. The year was 1966. Kalinsky bluffed his way past trainer Angelo Dundee and into the 5th Street Gym by claiming to be Madison Square Garden's official photographer. One of Kalinsky's Ali sparring photos got published by the Miami Herald, and then he manifested reality by bringing the film roll to MSG boxing president John Condon, which led to assignments shooting Emile Griffth, the Knicks, the Rangers and more. Within months, the 30-year-old Kalinsky really was the official photographer of the World's Most Famous Arena! And not only did he capture some of the finest ringside photos at Ali-Frazier I, but he notably mentored aspiring shutterbug Frank Sinatra to do the same.Tremendous crystal-clear image quality with UPI's intact paper caption on reverse: "FEIGNS TERROR / PHILADELPHIA, PA: Muhammad Ali (L), a man not easily scared, feigns terror at the sight of defending heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Frazier was about to begin a workout for his March 8th bout when the intruder showed up at his training headquarters. Ali did not say whether he was startled by Frazier's muscles or his shirt."About PSA's Photo Type Classification System©: The Type System was created in the 2005 book A Portrait of Baseball Photography by co-authors Henry Yee, Marshall Fogel and Khyber Oser, and it has been licensed exclusively to PSA since 2007. PSA Type I - A 1st generation photograph, developed from the original negative, within approximately two years of when the picture was taken. PSA Type II - A photograph, developed from the original negative, more than approximately two years after the picture was taken. PSA Type III - A 2nd generation photograph, developed from a duplicate negative, wire transmission or digital printing, within approximately two years of when the picture was taken. PSA Type IV - A 2nd generation photograph (or 3rd or later generation), developed from a duplicate negative, wire transmission or digital printing, more than approximately two years after the picture was taken. Condition - Collectible photography will typically reflect routine peripheral handling/publication wear such as creases, chips, tears, marks, crazing, foxing, notations, editorial masking/outlining, etc. Contact - Please email Goldin's Director of Vintage Memorabilia and Photography Khyber Oser () with any questions about original/vintage photography. read more

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