Offered is a remarkable Type I original news service photograph captured by United Press International (UPI), featuring two boxing legends—Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson—during a light-hearted yet historic moment ahead of their second and final bout. Taken on September 7, 1972, this captivating image shows Ali peering playfully through a window as he spies on Patterson hitting the heavy bag during the official dedication of Ali’s brand-new training facility at Deer Lake, Pennsylvania.
Measuring approximately standard 8" x 10", the photo is authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA as a Type I original, with UPI’s caption label affixed to the reverse, dated and describing the moment in journalistic detail. The caption reads:
"Muhammad Ali peers through window here Sept. 7 and watches Floyd Patterson punch bag during dedication of Ali's training center. Patterson, Ali's opponent in the 12-round elimination bout in New York Sept. 20, joined in the inaugural festivities."
This image is a true time capsule, highlighting Ali’s charisma, humor, and hospitality just days before their September 20th rematch at Madison Square Garden—a bout that ended in a 7th-round TKO victory for Ali, also marking Patterson’s final professional fight.
Deer Lake was more than a training ground. It was Ali’s personal retreat—his “Fighter’s Heaven.” Modeled after the tranquility of Camp David for U.S. Presidents, the compound featured log cabins, a mosque, dining halls, and boulder murals hand-painted by Ali’s father to honor past boxing greats. Visitors included notables such as Howard Cosell, Jim Brown, Andy Warhol, Diana Ross, and the Jackson Five.
This photograph represents a rare and meaningful convergence of sports history, character, and place—an image that captures the human side of two heavyweight champions amid the solemnity and spectacle of their impending clash. A top-tier archival piece for collectors of Ali, boxing, or American cultural history.