Montblanc has announced the latest writing instrument in its Great Characters collector line, inspired by the three-time heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali.
The Montblanc Great Characters Muhammad Ali Collection is dedicated to a man who not only challenged opponents in the boxing ring but who used his mind, charisma and voice as an outspoken and tireless advocate for civil rights, sacrificing a long period of his career to stand up for what he believed in.
The collection is made up of three unique designs which each celebrate one of Ali’s major victories – in 1964, 1974 and 1978 when he won the world heavyweight championship.
Born Cassius Clay (1942-2016) in Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali took up boxing at the age of 12 after having his bicycle stolen and taking the advice of a police officer: before looking for retaliation, he should learn to fight. At 18, he stepped into the global spotlight at the 1960 Summer Games in Rome when he competed as an amateur light heavyweight and won the gold medal. Just four years later, he shook up the world of sports when he became the world heavyweight boxing champion, the same year he formally changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
Ali was also pacifist and outspoken on the subject of civil rights. He refused military service in 1967 and as a result had his sports licence suspended, and he was stripped of his world champion title. After three and a half years, he was allowed back into the ring and captured his second and third world titles. To this day, Muhammad Ali is the only three-time lineal world heavyweight boxing champion.
The three writing instruments which honour Ali in the new collection are the Montblanc Great Characters Muhammad Ali Special Edition, the Montblanc Great Characters Muhammad Ali Limited Edition 1942 and the Montblanc Great Characters Muhammad Ali Limited Edition 98.
