Ali What's My Name canvas
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- Regular price€19,00
The essentials: a documentary poster on canvas: Ali in a guard, in black and white on a black ground, with the title What's my name set in large gold letters. 10 sizes from 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in to 110 × 160 cm / 43 × 63 in. Frame sold separately. From €19 to €109 depending on size, free standard shipping.
Fifteen rounds to make a man say a name
The title comes from one specific fight. On 6 February 1967, in Houston, Ali fought Ernie Terrell, who held one of the world belts. Throughout the promotion Terrell had called him Cassius Clay, refusing to use the name he had taken three years earlier.
The fight went fifteen rounds. Ali dominated it without ever looking to finish, repeating the same question to his opponent between exchanges: what is my name. American commentators described it as one of the most uncomfortable nights of his career. That question became the title of a documentary, and the line printed on this canvas.
What you see
Portrait format, black ground. The boxer holds the left half, photographed full length in black and white, in a guard, knees bent, torso three quarters on, white trunks with a dark waistband and dark red gloves — the only colour in the photograph.
On the right, the text on four levels: HBO Sports presents in small gold capitals, the title What's my name in very large gold letters across three lines, the name Muhammad Ali in white capitals, and below it music by Marcelo Zarvos. From 3 m / 10 ft you read a figure and a block of gold lettering; from 1 m / 3 ft the secondary lines become legible.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subject | Muhammad Ali in a guard, documentary poster on a black ground |
| Finish | Black and white photograph and typography |
| Dominant colours | Black, white, gold, dark red gloves |
| Orientation | Portrait |
| Material | Cotton canvas, high definition digital print |
| Inks | Pigment based, UV resistant |
| Thickness | 3 mm / 0.12 in |
| Canvas delivery | Rolled in a protective tube, no stretcher bars |
| Frame | Frame sold separately |
| Care | Dry microfibre cloth, barely damp cloth if needed |
| Use | Indoor |
| Sizes | 20 × 30, 30 × 45, 40 × 60, 50 × 70, 60 × 90, 70 × 100, 80 × 120, 90 × 130, 100 × 150, 110 × 160 cm (8 × 12 to 43 × 63 in) |
| Price | From €19 to €109 depending on size |
| Shipping | Free standard shipping |
Worth knowing: a poster is read head on and at eye level: centre 145 cm / 57 in from the floor, on a wall where people stop. The black ground asks for a light wall, without which the edge of the canvas disappears. Frames are sold separately: wooden frame up to 100 cm / 39 in per side, XXL wooden frame from 110 to 200 cm / 43 to 79 in, or aluminium frame in 8 finishes.
The secondary lines set the size
The gold title carries at five metres whatever the size. It is the two lines of small type — the broadcaster above, the composer below — that decide: they read at two metres from 50 × 70 cm / 20 × 28 in. The size chart by wall type covers the other placements room by room.
You may also like
- Ali black and white canvas — a portrait and ring scene montage in grey and black, if you want an image with no text.
- Ali vs Liston 1965 canvas — the 1965 press photograph, if you want the document rather than the poster.
- Ali butterfly quote canvas — a quote in large capitals on black, in landscape format.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the phrase what's my name come from?
From the fight against Ernie Terrell on 6 February 1967 in Houston. Terrell had insisted on calling him Cassius Clay throughout the build-up. Ali took him fifteen rounds without finishing him, repeating the question between exchanges.
What exactly is written on this poster?
Four lines: HBO Sports presents in small gold capitals, the title What's my name in large gold letters, Muhammad Ali in white capitals, and music by Marcelo Zarvos, who wrote the documentary score.
What size canvas should I hang above a sofa?
The working rule is about two thirds of the width of the furniture below it, centred 145 cm / 57 in from the floor. Over a 200 cm / 79 in three-seater, that means 80 × 120 cm / 31 × 47 in; over a two-seater, 60 × 90 cm / 24 × 35 in; in a hallway, 30 × 45 cm / 12 × 18 in. The full size chart by wall type is on the Ali vs Liston 1965 page.
Where should a poster on a black ground be hung?
On a light wall, so the edge of the black ground registers, and head on at eye level — centre 145 cm / 57 in from the floor. On a dark wall, add a frame.
Does the canvas come with a frame?
No, the canvas ships on its own, rolled in a protective tube. Frames are sold separately: wooden frame up to 100 cm / 39 in per side, XXL wooden frame from 110 to 200 cm / 43 to 79 in, or aluminium frame in 8 finishes. The wooden kits are 2.5 cm / 1 in thick and come with instructions.
How do I clean a canvas print?
A dry microfibre cloth handles almost everything. For a mark that stays, use a barely damp cloth with no detergent, wiping across the surface. No abrasive sponge, no glass cleaner.
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