The Champ's Camp: A Closer Look at Fighter's Heaven
Photograph and caption courtesy of the Pottsville Republican, August 19, 1977.
The Celebrity Retreat
While the original purpose of the camp was to get away from the spotlight and crowds of people that came with training in the city, Muhammad did not turn anyone away. The camp was frequently visited by fans, sportswriters and journalists, and celebrities.
Muhammad Ali welcomed many well-known personalities, from musicians to athletes to artists to movie stars. He was great friends with many, while others simply showed up to meet him and spend some time away from their own busy lives.
He once hosted Andy Warhol, who photographed Ali for a series he was creating on athletes. He posed in the boxing ring with the Jackson 5 and Tom Jones. He did numerous interviews with television and sports personalities, such as Howard Cosell and Dick Cavett. Ali's good friend and artist, LeRoy Neiman, frequented the camp and painted a mural of Ali in boxing gear on the wall of the gym.
