Rare and historically significant original fight poster heralding the October 26, 1970, bout between Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium. The poster, featuring the artwork of LeRoy Neiman, pictures a full-length image of Ali and a smaller, bust-length image of Quarry below. The bout marked Ali's return to the ring after a more than three-and-a-half-year exile following his defiant stance against being inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces. On April 28, 1967, following Ali's refusal to be drafted into the U.S. Army, he was stripped of his heavyweight title and his boxing license was revoked by the State of New York. Shortly after that, on June 20th, he was convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison. Ali's lawyers appealed the case and during the time of the appeal Ali was free on bond, and free to meet Quarry in the ring.
The bout against Quarry marked Ali's first ring appearance since he successfully defended his title against Zora Folley on March 22, 1967. Although Ali's case was still under appeal at the time, public opinion had softened and many people now supported Ali. As a result, the City of Atlanta granted him a boxing license. Ali is listed on the poster as the "Undefeated Champion" – despite his lack of a title belt – and Quarry as the "No. 1 Contender." For the 5,000 fans in attendance that night, it would have been hard not to recognize Ali as the champion, given his easy win over Quarry in three rounds. Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee, echoed the voice of those at ringside afterward when he commented: "He was so close to being the Ali of three years ago that it was scary." The poster measures 14” wide by 22” high and displays a few light creases and tiny edge tears, none of which detract in the least from its overall excellent appearance.