Boxing

The U.S. Postal Service will issue a “Forever Stamp” to Muhammad Ali

Published

9 months ago

January 12, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Muhammad Ali once joked that he should be a postage stamp because “that’s the only way I’ll get licked.”

Now the three-time heavyweight champion’s joke is becoming a reality.

Widely considered the most famed and influential boxer of all time and a cultural force who combined athletic brilliance with political conviction and showmanship, Ali was honored for the first time with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp.

“As the guardian of his legacy, I am delighted. Excited. I am delighted,” Lonnie Ali, the champion’s wife of almost 30 years, told The Associated Press. “Because every time people look at this badge, they will remember it. And it will be at the center of their consciousness. For me, that’s a thrill.”

The ring-fighting and compassionate Muhammad Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for over thirty years. During his life and posthumously, the man known as The Greatest received numerous awards, including the 1960 Olympic Gold Medal, the 1998 United Nations Messenger of Peace Award, and the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Lonnie Ali said having his face on the stamp was especially meaningful because it was a chance to highlight his mission to spread compassion and connect with people.

“He did it one at a time,” she said. “It’s a great way to connect with people, send them a letter, and employ that stamp to amplify your message in a connected life.”

A stamp for public unveiling

The ceremony for the first day of the Muhammad Ali Forever stamp is scheduled for Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, the birthplace of the famed boxer and home of the Muhammad Ali Center, which showcases his life and legacy. That’s when people can buy Muhammad Ali Forever Stamps featuring a 1974 black-and-white Associated Press photo of Ali in his famed boxing pose.

Each sheet of 20 stamps also features a photo of Ali posing in a pinstripe suit, paying tribute to his work as an activist and humanitarian. Twenty-two million stamps were printed. U.S. Postal Service officials said once they sell out, they won’t be reissued. The stamps are expected to generate great interest from collectors and non-collectors alike.

Because these are Forever stamps, first-class mail will always remain valid, which Lonnie Ali calls the “ultimate” tribute.

“It will be a forever stamp from the post office,” she said. “This is just one of those things that will be part of his legacy and one of the shining stars of his legacy that will receive this stamp.”

Creating a historical stamp

Lisa Bobb-Semple, director of USPS stamp services, said the idea for the Muhammad Ali stamp came shortly after his death, almost a decade ago. But the process of developing a badge is long. The USPS requires that people appearing on stamps must have been dead for at least three years, with the exception of presidents.

While USPS was working behind the scenes on the stamp, Ali’s friend helped launch the #GetTheChampAStamp campaign, which sparked public interest in the idea.

“We’re really excited that the stars aligned to make the stamp happen,” said Bobb-Semple, who initially had to keep Ali’s planned stamp a secret until it became official. “It’s a product we’ve always wanted to bring to market.”

Members of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, appointed by the postmaster general, are responsible for selecting who and what appears on the stamps. They meet quarterly with Bobb-Semple and her team to review suggestions submitted by the public. About 20–25 commemorative stamps are usually issued each year.

Once a stamp idea is selected, Bobb-Semple and her team work with one of several art directors to design the mailer. It then goes through a lengthy final approval process, including strict review by USPS legal staff, before it can be released to the public.

Antonio Alcalá, art director and designer of the Muhammad Ali stamp, said hundreds of photos were reviewed before the final decision was narrowed down to a few. Ultimately, the AP photo taken by an anonymous photographer was selected. It shows Ali in great shape, posing with boxing gloves and looking straight at the camera.

Alcalá said there is a story behind every USPS stamp.

“Postage stamps are miniature works of art designed to reflect the American experience, depicting America’s heroes, history, milestones, achievements and natural wonders,” he said. “Muhammad Ali’s stamps are a perfect example of this.”

An outspoken figure in the areas of war, civil rights and religion

Outside the ring, Ali spoke openly about his beliefs, while many black Americans were still struggling to be heard. Ali, born Cassius Clay Jr., changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1960s and spoke openly about race, religion and war. In 1967, he refused to enlist in the U.S. Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War.

This attitude cost Ali the heavyweight title and excluded him from boxing for over three years. Convicted of conscription evasion, he was sentenced to five years in prison, but remained free while he appealed. This verdict was overturned by the United States Supreme Court in 1971, further strengthening his position as a world figure.

Later in life, Ali became a global humanitarian and used his fame to promote peace, religious understanding and charitable causes, even though Parkinson’s disease restricted his speech and movement.

Ali’s message in times of conflict

The commemorative postage stamp comes at a time of political division in the U.S. and around the world. Lonnie Ali said that if her husband were alive today, he would probably “block a lot of it out” and still be a compassionate person who interacts with people every day.

In her opinion, this approach is especially critical now.

“We need to mobilize the life of Muhammad and in some sense engage in the same acts of kindness and compassion that he did every day,” she said.

Boxing

Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap

Published

10 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap"

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Liam Davies faces Nathaniel Collins in the main event at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham.

Davies and Collins collide over 12 rounds for the EBU European featherweight title at the top of the Queensberry Promotions card.

Luke McCormack faces Kay Prospere for the vacant British super lightweight title, while Bradley Goldsmith takes on Amir Abubaker for the IBF International middleweight title.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.

Results

All times are local BST.

23:11

Gerome Warburton defeated Nathan Heaney for the second time running as the middleweight put an exclamation mark on his first victory.

Heaney walks away from the sport having been an entertainer through a long carer, without reaching the heights of a world title.

22:04

Liam Davies improved to 19-1 after Nathaniel Collins retired at the end of the seventh round due to a cut over his right eye. Collins had also been dropped in the opening round as Davies successfully defended the European featherweight title.

21:22

Bradley Goldsmith improved to 17-1 with a seventh-round stoppage of Amir Abubaker to retain his IBF International middleweight title. Abubaker went down in the fourth and three times in the seventh before the finish at 2:42.

20:10

Lewis Richardson improved to 3-0 with a shutout six-round points victory over Ivan Trofimovich, earning a 60-54 decision.

19:56

Luke McCormack moved to 6-0 and claimed the vacant British super lightweight title with a tenth-round knockout of Kay Prospere, who was counted out after a right uppercut at 1:28.

18:55

Michael Hussain moved to 5-0 with a four-round points victory over Nabil Ahmed, earning a 39-38 decision.

18:11

Nelson Birchall moved to 12-0 with a third-round stoppage of Lewis Morris, who went down before the finish came at 1:12. Lasha Guruli also remained unbeaten at 5-0 after edging Hughie Wilson 77-75 over eight rounds.

17:22

Early action saw John Tom Varey and Reese Lynch claim four-round victories to move to 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.

TV Coverage

DAZN provides full worldwide coverage.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Janibek Alimkhanuly Shifts Perspective on Hamzah Sheeraz: A New Dynamic in Boxing

Published

12 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Janibek Alimkhanuly Shifts Perspective on Hamzah Sheeraz: A New Dynamic in Boxing"

Janibek Alimkhanuly spent months trying to get Hamzah Sheeraz into the ring. Now that Sheeraz has vacated his WBO super middleweight title, Janibek is asking fans to stop saying the former champion ran from him. That is generous. It also leaves Janibek with less to say about a fight he wanted badly.

He’s not afraid of me. He didn’t run from me. He made his decision based on his own plans. He has his own goals! He’s my brother, and I ask everyone to stop saying he ran from me. He’s a great fighter, and I have nothing but respect for him! @sheeraz_hamzah 🫂 pic.twitter.com/uxZlegqSmH

— Janibek Alimkhanuly (@qazaqstyle) September 26, 2026

Janibek’s tone has changed since the purse bid. He was eager to fight, said money was not his priority, and publicly pushed Sheeraz to accept. Queensberry then bid $1,001,809 to stage the ordered defense, beating Top Rank’s $820,000 offer. Sheeraz’s 75 percent share would have been roughly $751,000. Days later, he gave up the belt.

That sequence deserves a closer look. Queensberry put a serious number on the fight, so the bid itself cannot be dismissed as proof that nobody valued it. But winning the right to promote a title defense means little to fans when the champion vacates before it happens.

Sheeraz has objected to Janibek receiving a mandatory shot after his failed drug test. He is entitled to explain that position. Fans are equally entitled to ask why the issue reached a purse bid before he surrendered the title. Janibek’s post supplies no answer.

Perhaps Janibek sees no benefit in branding Sheeraz a coward. Doing so would also make the opponent he chased sound less valuable. Calling Sheeraz a great fighter preserves the idea that this was an important contest, even after the belt and the fight slipped away.

The respect between them may be sincere. Janibek still gets no Sheeraz fight, and Sheeraz no longer has to defend his title against Janibek. A friendly photo does not change either result.

About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

Boxing

Virginia Confirms Decision to Erase Prichard Colón Loss from Records

Published

13 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Virginia Confirms Decision to Erase Prichard Colón Loss from Records

Virginia has given World Boxing News its final answer on whether Prichard Colón’s last professional defeat can still be challenged, bringing an end to WBN’s long fight to have the result annulled and removed from his record.

WBN has pursued the possibility of changing the controversial disqualification defeat to Terrel Williams, with those efforts continuing following Colón’s death at age 33.

Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation previously explained that a decision can only be overturned if there is proven collusion, a scorecard error, or a regulatory violation that affected the result.

WBN pressed Eric Beidel, Communications & Digital Media Manager for the Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation, on whether any avenue remained to challenge the decision.

“And on that final question … as mentioned before, a decision can only be overturned if there is proven collusion, a scorecard error, or a regulatory violation that affected the results,” Beidel graciously responded after providing WBN with transparent answers throughout the investigation.

“In addition, a complaint about a regulatory violation must be filed within three years of the alleged violation.”

The Colón-Williams fight took place on October 17, 2015, meaning that deadline expired years ago.

Virginia Closes Appeal Route

Virginia’s response also addressed whether the result could instead be challenged through an appeal.

“The Administrative Process Act (APA) does create appeal rights to case decisions, but because DPOR never received a complaint in this instance, there was no case or decision that could be appealed under the APA.”

The deadline for filing a complaint about a regulatory violation has expired, while the absence of an original complaint means there is no case decision available to appeal under the APA.

For WBN, Virginia’s response ends a long fight to have the defeat annulled and removed from Colón’s professional record.

WBN’s Fight for Prichard Colón

It is no secret that WBN and Prichard were close before the most tragic night of his career ended all contact and left us on the outside for the years leading up to his death.

That never stopped WBN from reporting on Prichard, campaigning for change and hoping lessons from what happened to him could help prevent another fighter and family from enduring the same tragedy.

Virginia’s final response may end WBN’s attempts to have the result changed, but it does not end our commitment to Prichard.

Prichard Colón will not be forgotten.

WBN will continue to keep his name alive whenever and wherever possible with the WBN Boxer Pageand push to ensure his fight for life and everything that happened in its aftermath are never allowed to simply disappear from boxing’s memory.

This investigation ends here, but Prichard’s story does not.

About the Author

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.