The Champ's Camp: A Closer Look at Fighter's Heaven
The newly restored boxing gym at Fighter's Heaven.
Photograph courtesy of Jeff Julian.
In Memory of the Greatest
Muhammad Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, and the world went into mourning. Many people around the globe paid tribute to Ali. Some travelled to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to attend his memorial service, pay their respects at his gravesite, and visit the Muhammad Ali Center. Some created artwork to comemorate him, and journalists from all over the world shared their stories. No one wanted to forget the legacy that the Greatest left behind, especially Mike Madden.
Madden is the son of the late NFL coach and broadcaster, John Madden. In 2016, Madden decided to preserve Ali's legacy by purchasing the Fighter's Heaven training camp and restoring it to its original glory. After the camp was purchased in 2016, the restoration process began a few months later in the spring of 2017. By referencing historic photographs and consulting those who had spent time at Fighter's Heaven, like photographer Jeff Julian, each of the buildings was meticulously restored inside and out. The camp was officially reopened to visitors as a historic site and education center in June of 2019.
