First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony Planned in Louisville, Ali’s Birthplace, for Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp
Muhammad Ali once joked that he should be a postage stamp because “that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.”
Now, the three-time heavyweight champion’s quip is becoming reality. Widely regarded as the most famous and influential boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali is being honored for the first time with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp.
A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp is planned for Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali’s birthplace and home to the Muhammad Ali Center, which preserves and showcases his life and legacy.
“As sort of the guardian of his legacy, I’m thrilled. I’m excited. I’m ecstatic,” said Lonnie Ali, Ali’s wife of nearly 30 years, in an interview with The Associated Press. “Because people, every time they look at that stamp, they will remember him. And he will be in the forefront of their consciousness. And, for me, that’s a thrill.”
Muhammad Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades. During his lifetime and posthumously, the man known as The Greatest received numerous honors, including an Olympic gold medal in 1960, the United Nations Messenger of Peace award in 1998, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
Lonnie Ali said having his face on a stamp carries special meaning because it reflects his lifelong mission of spreading compassion and his ability to connect with people on a personal level.
“He did it one person at a time,” she said. “And that’s such a lovely way to connect with people—to send them a letter and to use this stamp to reinforce the messaging in that life of connection.”
The Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp features a black-and-white Associated Press photograph from 1974 showing Ali in his iconic boxing pose. Each sheet of 20 stamps also includes a second image of Ali dressed in a pinstripe suit, recognizing his work as an activist and humanitarian beyond the ring.
Twenty-two million stamps have been printed, according to United States Postal Service officials. Once they sell out, they will not be reprinted. Because they are Forever Stamps, the postage will remain valid for First-Class Mail regardless of future price increases—something Lonnie Ali called the “ultimate” tribute.
“This is going to be a Forever Stamp from the post office,” she said. “It’s just one of those things that will be part of his legacy, and it will be one of the shining stars of his legacy, getting this stamp.”
Lisa Bobb-Semple, the USPS director of stamp services, said the idea for a Muhammad Ali stamp emerged shortly after his death nearly a decade ago. The process, however, is lengthy. USPS policy requires that individuals featured on stamps be deceased for at least three years, with the exception of presidents.
As the stamp was being developed behind the scenes, a friend of Ali helped launch the #GetTheChampAStamp campaign, which helped build public support.
“We are really excited that the stars were able to align that allowed us to bring the stamp to fruition,” Bobb-Semple said. “It’s one that we’ve always wanted to bring to the market.”
Members of the Citizen Stamps Advisory Committee, appointed by the postmaster general, select subjects for commemorative stamps. The committee reviews public submissions quarterly, and the USPS typically issues 20 to 25 commemorative stamps each year. Once a subject is approved, the design goes through a rigorous process that includes artistic development and legal review before it is released to the public.
Antonio Alcalá, the art director and designer of the Muhammad Ali stamp, said hundreds of images were considered before the final selections were made. The chosen AP photo captures Ali in his prime, wearing boxing gloves and staring directly into the camera.
“Postage stamps are miniature works of art designed to reflect the American experience—highlighting heroes, history, milestones, achievements and natural wonders,” Alcalá said. “The Muhammad Ali stamps are a great example of that.”
Beyond boxing, Ali was a candid and often controversial voice on race, religion and war at a time when many Black Americans were still fighting to be heard. Born Cassius Clay Jr., he changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1960s and spoke openly about civil rights and global justice.
In 1967, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. The decision cost him his heavyweight title and sidelined him from boxing for more than three years. Convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison, Ali remained free while appealing the case. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 1971, further solidifying his status as a global figure of principle and resistance.
In later years, even as Parkinson’s disease limited his speech and movement, Ali continued humanitarian work around the world, promoting peace, religious understanding and charitable causes.
The commemorative stamp is being released during a period of deep political and social division. Lonnie Ali said that if her husband were alive today, he would likely continue to focus on compassion and human connection rather than being consumed by the noise of the moment.
“We have to mobilize Muhammad’s life and sort of engage in the same kinds of acts of kindness and compassion that he did every day,” she said.
