Rare and unseen photos of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali have emerged after almost 60 years. Discovered in a garage inside a bag tucked away in a cardboard box, these photos were captured by acclaimed Daily Mirror photographer Albert Cooper and revealed by his grandson, Matthew King. Upon finding the negatives, Albert vividly recalled the details of the shoot from 1966.
Printing the photos for the first time, Matthew expressed his excitement at the discovery. He shared, “The Muhammad Ali negatives were neatly stored in a bag labeled with Ali’s name. When we found the undeveloped negatives, it was truly astonishing. Viewing them under light, the images were outstanding.” Reflecting on the collaboration with Ali, Albert fondly remembered the experience, describing Ali as a remarkable and charismatic individual.
Albert, now 89 years old, spent numerous years working for the Mirror. The photos were taken during Ali’s bout against Brian London at Earls Court in London in 1966.
Taking on the task of archiving his grandfather’s work, Matthew aims to preserve it for future generations, even launching an Instagram account. Sorting through numerous negatives stored in cardboard boxes in his grandfather’s garage in Lancashire, Matthew expressed his relief at discovering the collection intact.
Regarding the extensive undertaking, Matthew shared, “Beginning in late 2021, I embarked on this journey. While his photos were always part of my life, their significance truly hit me recently. Transitioning from seeing him as just ‘grandad’ to recognizing his role in capturing pivotal sporting moments required a shift in perspective. Equipped with a scanner, I began the preservation process, but there is still much work ahead.”
Putting in countless hours of effort, Matthew views the project as a passion project. He emphasized the importance of curating and safeguarding the photos for future appreciation. Planning special exhibitions to showcase the work, Matthew highlighted past exhibitions in Manchester and Blackpool, with future plans for a display in Manchester next year.
Reflecting on Albert’s career highlights, Matthew revealed that two significant assignments stood out in his memory, involving iconic football moments in England’s history. Albert was present at Wembley in 1966 when England won the World Cup and also captured the emotions of the 1990 World Cup semi-final in Rome.
Sharing Albert’s proud moments, Matthew mentioned, “Among his standout photos are those from the 1966 World Cup final and the 1990 World Cup semi-finals. One image that resonates is my photograph of Paul Gascoigne during the 1990 World Cup, capturing the tension of the match with Germany. Another challenging shot featured the Charlton brothers, taken amidst rowdy fans, showcasing a memorable sporting moment captured with limited equipment.”
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