LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The pink house where Muhammad Ali grew up dreaming of boxing fame — and where hundreds of fans gathered for an emotional send-off as his funeral procession passed by decades later — is up for sale.
The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Louisville was converted into a museum that offered a glimpse into the formative years of the boxing champion and humanitarian known worldwide as The Greatest. The house went on the market Tuesday along with two neighboring homes — one was turned into a welcome center-gift shop and the other was meant to become a short-term rental.
The owners are asking $1.5 million for the three properties. Finding a buyer willing to maintain Ali’s childhood home as a museum would be “the best possible result,” co-owner George Bochetto said.
“This is a part of Americana,” said Bochetto, a Philadelphia attorney and former Pennsylvania state boxing commissioner. “This is part of our history. And it needs to be treated and respected as such.”
The museum opened for tours shortly before Ali’s death in 2016. Bochetto and his business partner at the time renovated the frame house to how it looked when Ali — known then as Cassius Clay — lived there with his parents and younger brother.
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“You walk into this house ... you’re going back to 1955, and you’re going to be in the middle of the Clay family home,” Bochetto told The Associated Press during a 2016 interview.
Using old photos, the developers replicated the home’s furnishings, appliances, artwork and even its pink exterior from Ali’s days living there. The museum featured videos focused on the story of Ali’s upbringing, not his storied boxing career.
“To me, that’s the bigger story and the more important story,” Bochetto said in an interview last week.
Ali got his start in boxing after his bicycle was stolen. Wanting to report the crime, the 12-year-old Ali was introduced to Joe Martin, a police officer who doubled as a boxing coach at a local gym. Ali told Martin he wanted to whip the culprit. The thief was never found, nor was the bike, but Ali became a regular in Martin’s gym.
Ali lived in the home when he left for the 1960 Olympics. He returned as a gold medal winner, launching a career that made him one of the world’s most recognizable figures as a three-time heavyweight boxing champion and globetrotting humanitarian.
The home became a worldwide focal point on the day of Ali’s burial, when hundreds of people lined the street in front of the house as his hearse and funeral procession slowly passed by.
Despite its high-profile debut, the museum ran into financial troubles and closed less than two years after opening. The museum is situated in a western Louisville neighborhood several miles from downtown, where the Muhammad Ali Center preserves his humanitarian and boxing legacies.
As efforts to reopen the childhood museum languished, offers to move the 1,200-square-foot (111-square-meter) house to Las Vegas, Philadelphia and even Saudi Arabia were turned down, Bochetto said.
“I wouldn’t do that because it’s an important piece of Louisville history, Kentucky history and I think it needs to stay right where it is,” he said.
Las Vegas real estate investor Jared Weiss bought the Ali childhood house — then rundown and vacant — in 2012 for $70,000 with plans to restore it. Three years later, Weiss formed a partnership with Bochetto, who acquired a half interest in the project. Both were avid fans of Ali, and they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the restoration project. They also purchased the two neighboring homes, financed a documentary, subsidized museum operations and incurred expenses for all three properties. Weiss has since died and his wife is the project’s co-owner, Bochetto said.
Now, Bochetto said he’s hoping they’ll find a buyer with the “marketing and operational know-how” to make the museum a success.
“I want to make sure that it continues in that fashion and never goes back to where it’s abandoned or dilapidated,” he said. “That should never have happened.”
FAQs
The two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is located in Louisville, Ky., and was previously converted into a museum. The pink home went on the market on Tuesday along with two nearby homes for a total asking price of $1.5 million, according to the Associated Press.
Who owns Muhammad Ali childhood home? ›
The home was restored and has been used as a museum.
The house was in a state of disrepair around a decade ago, when it was snapped up by George Bochetto, a former Pennsylvania boxing commissioner, and his business partner, the late Jared Weiss.
What happened in Muhammad Ali's childhood? ›
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942, he grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, while racial segregation was the law in the American South. In a pivotal moment of his youth, a young Ali channeled outrage over the theft of his red bicycle into amateur boxing.
What was Muhammad Ali's family life like? ›
His Family
His mother played a big part in building up Ali's spirituality and was a big supporter throughout his boxing career. Ali's father worked as a painter and inspired Ali in the arts. Ali's younger brother Rahaman was a lifetime companion.
Is Muhammad Ali still living? ›
Muhammad Ali (/ɑːˈliː/; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "the Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
Who inherited Muhammad Ali's estate? ›
Ali left everything to his wife, Lonnie — including the 20% company stake — this valuation exercise becomes a moot point because of something called an unlimited marital deduction. That allows the transfer of an unrestricted amount of assets to a spouse estate-tax-free at any time, including death.
Who is the owner of Muhammad Ali? ›
Authentic Brands, Owner of Muhammad Ali, SI and Shaq NIL, Files for IPO. Authentic Brands Group, an owner of brands and intellectual property including Muhammad Ali, Forever 21 and Sports Illustrated, has filed for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Did Muhammad Ali have an adopted son? ›
Muhammad and Lonnie Ali adopted a son, Asaad Amin, when he was five months old. They were married for thirty years at the time of Muhammad Ali's death.
Who was Ali's son in Islam? ›
His first marriage was to Fatima, daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who bore Ali three sons, namely, Hasan, Husayn, and Muhsin, though the last one is not mentioned in some sources.
How many biological children did Muhammad Ali have? ›
Ali married his fourth wife, Lonnie (née Yolanda Williams), in 1986. He had nine children, most of whom avoided the spotlight of which Ali was so fond.
Ali was married four times and had nine children, including two children—daughters Miya and Khaliah—he fathered outside of marriage. Ali married his first wife, Sonji Roi, in 1964. They divorced a little more than one year later when she refused to adopt the Nation of Islam dress and customs.
What did Ali do as a kid? ›
Early Life and Career. Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, 1942. He began boxing as an amateur at the age of 12. After advancing through the amateur ranks, he captured a gold medal in the 175-pound division at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy.
How old is Muhammad Ali in 2024? ›
Celebrate the Champ's Birthday at the Muhammad Ali Center! We'll be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 17, 2024 for what would have been Ali's 82nd birthday.
What was Muhammad Ali's disease? ›
His serial neuropsychological testing results showed progressive frontal and memory impairments consistent with classic Parkinson disease. He had mild occasional depression. Ali remained generally positive and embraced his diagnosis, despite the realization it was chronic and progressive.
Where is Muhammad Ali buried? ›
Aptly nicknamed “The Greatest,” boxing heavyweight champion, humanitarian, philanthropist, and civil rights leader Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was buried in the city's historic Cave Hill Cemetery.
Did Muhammad Ali have a house in Chicago? ›
Our walk begins on Woodlawn Avenue at a house occupied for many years by Muhammad Ali. The boxing star acquired the home at the time of his conversion to the Muslim faith. His spiritual leader, Elijah Muhammad, lived nearby, on the corner of 48th and Woodlawn.
Did Muhammad Ali have a house in New Jersey? ›
A mid-century spread in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, that was once owned by boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been relisted for $1.85 million, according to records.
Did Muhammad Ali live in a mansion? ›
The Los Angeles mansion where boxing icon Muhammad Ali once lived is up for auction. Listed at $13.5 million, the seven-bed, eight-bath estate at 55 Fremont Place is accepting live bids via Concierge Auctions until May 15. Ali lived at the estate between 1979 and 1986, Business Insider reported.
Who owns the rights to Ali? ›
The company that owns his rights is the Authentic Brands Group which also owns the rights to boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Moreover, it was revealed that he spent around $135 million on this deal.
