Has LVA had the opportunity to visit the “ I Am the Greatest: Muhammad Ali” exhibit at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art? If yes, please advise your review.
Actually, we haven’t, but it’s definitely on our list to visit before it closes on September 30 and then we’ll review it in the Advisor or elsewhere on this site.
The Ali exhibit is a major departure for the Bellagio art gallery. “It’s something different for us, but that’s what we like,” said Tarissa Tiberti, the gallery’s executive director. “It just seemed fitting to celebrate and share the life of an athlete who is so widely appreciated throughout the world.”
Ali, who changed his name from Cassius Clay, began training as an amateur boxer when he was 12 years old. When he was 18, he won a gold medal as a light heavyweight at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and at age 22 in 1964, he won the heavyweight title in a huge upset by beating Sonny Liston. Soon thereafter, he converted to Islam and became Muhammed Ali.
Only seven of his more than 60 fights took place in Las Vegas, where he was 5-2 (overall, he won 56 fights, 37 by knockouts, and lost only five), but he certainly helped put Las Vegas on the boxing-championship map. At the same time, Ali’s 21-year career only partially defined his life.
The exhibit features several dozen personal possessions, including several championship rings, his Olympic medals, and an autographed pair of boxing shorts and gloves he gave to Elvis Presley. Ringside-seat videos of his most legendary fights, family photos, reminiscences from friends, posters, inspirational quotes, and coverage of his philanthropy around the world, particularly with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics, round out the exhibit, which concludes with a 20-minute video on his life.
Ali died at age 74, last June 3, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Tickets are $18; $16 for Nevada residents, seniors 65 and older, students, teachers, and military; children 12 and younger are free.
