1/28/1974 MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER SUPERFIGHT II AT MSG GICLEE PHOTO WITH THE ORIGINAL 1-OF-1 NEGATIVE FILM STRIP FROM HERB SCHARFMAN'S CAMERA (TypeZero COA)

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/3/2020

Muhammad Ali fought Smokin' Joe Frazier three times, beginning with the "Fight of the Century" in March of 1971 and concluding with the "Thrilla in Manila" in October of '75. The second bout between these famous heavyweights was branded "Superfight II" and took place at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 1974. Frazier won the first battle, Ali took the rematch and the GOAT got Frazier in the famous rubber match in the Philippines. Inside this beautiful black frame is an image from Superfight II at MSG with Ali throwing one of his patented left jabs. The photo is accompanied by the original transparent negative of this famous image (authenticated by TypeZero), which includes an internal light switch to brighten up the negative within the unique display. This actual 1-of-1 negative film strip was taken right out of the photographer's camera and can be found nowhere else.

The photographer who captured this iconic shot was Herb Scharfman, a longtime International News stringer who would later join Sports Illustrated and whose work there graced the cover 15 times. Other famous photos taken by Scharfman were Rocky Marciano’s famous knockout punch of Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952 and the moment when Roger Maris broke The Babe’s single-season home run record in 1961. Ironically, perhaps the most famous shot associated with Scharfman is not one he took but actually one in which he appears. Neil Leifer's famous shot of Ali "Standing over Liston" in their 1964 fight shows Scharfman directly across from Leifer's camera appearing directly between Ali's legs.

Each TypeZero Original is one of a kind and contains the original photographic film present in the camera when the image was created. Therefore, this film artifact was in the presence of the people and the event, which is captured on that transparency or negative. The 1-of-1 negative is accompanied by a digitally reproduced giclee print measuring approximately 8x11 inches [“created on Exhibition Fiver Paper using a MicroPiezo AMC print head with the latest UltraChrome HD eight-color pigment ink, lasting up to 100 years for color prints and 200 years for B&W prints”].

The original film negative and its blown-up print are beautifully matted and displayed within a 14” x 19” x 2” black frame. In addition, the transparent negative can be innovatively lit up (manually or with included remote control) using a battery-operated lighting mechanism located within the back of the frame, giving the historically significant photo the ultimate presentation and viewing experience.

Included is a TypeZero LOA which “conveys ownership of the physical original film transparency to the recipient strictly for display and personal use which include the right to resell or gift each TypeZero Original to other recipients. However, the original film transparency may not be digitized, reproduced, disseminated, published, transferred, or otherwise utilized in any other many expect as specifically set forth in this letter. The copyright and all associated rights in the transparency and accompanying photo are strictly and expressly reserved for the photographer or other holder of the copyright.”