Description
Book SynopsisThey Must Fall: Muhammad Ali and the Men He Fought features powerful and often moving images and stories of Muhammad Ali and the men he fought in the ring, by award-winning photographer Michael Brennan.
“Around 1978, I had been in Houston, Texas photographing former Ali opponent George Foreman who had then reinvented himself as a roadside preacher. On the plane back to NYC, I thought, ‘If that’s what George is doing, I wonder what the rest of his opponents are up to?’ I set out to track down as many of the old guys as I could find.” Brennan spent decades locating Ali’s former opponents to discover what had become of them. This unique book is a look through Brennan’s remarkable archive, containing numerous never-before- seen photos plus poignant stories illuminating the images and contextualising Ali’s powerful role in the world of sport. Includes a special introductory essay by the late, great Jimmy Breslin.
“Michael Brennan’s iconic 1977 portrait photograph of Muhammad Ali captures something far bigger and deeper than just the beautiful face of a beautiful man. It is a detailed map of the personal journey of one whose incomparable talents and audacity caused literati to swoon, taught a generation to question authority, and ultimately altered the path of a society which had never before seen a man exactly like him. To look at him the way he was then is to remember, with joy and sorrow, who we all once were.” - Jim Lampley, discussing the cover image (Boxing commentator, HBO Sports)
Trade Review”Now a book by Michael Brennan, an English photographer, breathes renewed life into a man who remains the most photogenic of sports stars. Millions of words have been written about him, but each of Brennan’s pictures paints a thousand more.” -- Rick Broadbent, The Times
"Great photographs...it's a book for Ali, for boxing and for photography fans.... Unrivalled." -- Steve Bunce, author and BBC Radio 5 Live boxing commentator
"Michael Brennan brings together a collection of portraits and stories of the men Muhammad Ali faced in the ring to create a fascinating portrait of the Greatest of All Time. ” -- Miss Rosen, blind magazine
“A dozen films have been made around Ali’s life; even more books written about it. Yet, the allure around Ali's larger-than-life persona remains enticing as it ever was. It was this allure which led photographer Michael Brennan to spend decades tracking down Ali’s opponents, from former champions such as George Foreman and Joe Frazier, to forgotten names known only by their contribution to a 56 win tally.” -- Esquire Magazine
“A murderer, a homeless man, a taxi driver: what do they have in common? They all boxed Muhammad Ali once. The award-winning photographer Michael Brennan speaks here about his search for the opponent of the “greatest”.” - Benjamin Knaack, Spiegel Sport
“A picture is worth a 1,000 words. The photos tell the story. This is a good way to describe a book which has provided tremendous photo coverage of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.” - Donald Hunt, Philadelphia Tribune
“The images take us beyond the ropes and across time, into the private lives of men who played vital roles in the history of our ancient sports.” - Rob Chilton, Edgar Magazine
"The book, They Must Fall: Muhammad Ali And The Men he fought is a reflection of the impact of a man in sports history….Beyond the ropes, from afar or close, the face of the man who changed boxing is another and his life is another; hence, Brennan bet on going further and taking a historic step: follow closely the men who faced the king." - Mario Villagrán, GQ Mexico
