The life of ‘The Greatest,’ Muhammad Ali
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WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Muhammad Ali raises his fists for the last time in his final ever photos https://t.co/F3emq4WGjX pic.twitter.com/EmWvNXf4Du
— The Scottish Sun (@ScottishSun) June 6, 2016
After Ali passed away Friday night, Texeira spoke to the Sun in England about the final shoot — click on the link to see more photos from it — saying at first he worried that Ali would not be well enough to take part. But his fears were soon allayed, as “The Greatest” was “feeling well and rested”:
“His skin glistens and he is meticulously groomed with cool dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.“He is helped into an armchair and it’s clear to see how fragile this man has become.“However, I am told that even though he may not respond he understands every word.“I do what I have to do and 45 minutes later wrap the shoot, over the moon with what I have captured.“I hold his hand, thank him, tell him that I’ll pray for him and kiss his forehead as I say goodbye.”
“Muhammad was a delight to photograph,” he told the Sun. “I feel blessed to have met my all-time sporting hero. To capture his majesty with such intimacy fulfills a dream.”
The Sun put one of Texeira’s photos on its front cover for Monday’s editions:
@richarddeitsch Front page of The Sun tomorrow. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ISRy7b7VHU
— Mark Donaldson 🏴 (@DonaldsonESPN) June 5, 2016
The editor explains the choice:
Here's the reasoning from Gordon Smart, who's editing tomorrow's newspaper... pic.twitter.com/sTeFRQy6jr
— Mark Donaldson 🏴 (@DonaldsonESPN) June 6, 2016
More coverage of Muhammad Ali’s death: