Image and text5 sizes20 coloursUp to 115 cm / 45 in
The essentials: a raised wrapped fist, hand wrap wound from wrist to knuckles, with NEVER GIVE UP in capitals slanted to the right. Monochrome adhesive vinyl, 5 sizes from 42 × 37 cm to 115 × 100 cm / 17 × 15 to 45 × 39 in, 20 colours. Transfer film and instructions included. €19 to €65 depending on the size.
Kinshasa, 30 October 1974
Muhammad Ali was 32, and George Foreman, unbeaten, had put his last two opponents down in two rounds each. Ali spent the first eight rounds with his back on the ropes, arms high, taking it — a tactic his own corner first read as a disguised surrender and which he would later call the rope-a-dope. By the eighth Foreman was empty; Ali came out of his guard and put him down. He was world heavyweight champion again, seven years after being stripped of the title.
That fight is the best illustration of the line this sticker carries: the winner is not the one who hits hardest, it is the one who does not let go.
The design
Landscape composition in two blocks. On the left, a closed fist raised, seen from three-quarters behind: the knuckles are drawn one by one, and a hand wrap spirals from the wrist to the back of the hand, its loose end floating upwards. It is an outline drawing, with fine hatching marking the tendons and the folds of the wrap.
On the right, the text NEVER GIVE UP over two lines, in bold capitals slightly slanted, framed by a rule above and below and three bursts at the top right. The whole sits in a rectangle a little wider than it is tall.
Technical specifications
Tip: the 115 × 100 cm / 45 × 39 in takes up a square metre / eleven square feet of wall: that is a gable-end or full training-wall size, for clear panels over 1.50 m / 5 ft. For a bedroom or an office, the 66 × 57 cm / 26 × 22 in stays readable at two metres / six feet. The fitting guide explains squeegeeing a large format without creasing the film.
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All thirteen designs are gathered in the boxing wall stickers collection. For a wall that is already textured, where an adhesive will not hold, see the boxing wall art, and the rest of the decoration in neon signs, rugs and blankets.
Frequently asked questions
What size of wall sticker should I choose?
Five sizes, from 42 × 37 cm / 17 × 15 in to 115 × 100 cm / 45 × 39 in. The rule of thumb: about two thirds of the width of the wall or the furniture below. Above a rack or a heavy bag, the 86 × 75 cm / 34 × 30 in; on a clear gable over 1.50 m / 5 ft, the 115 × 100 cm; in a bedroom or an office, the 48 × 42 cm / 19 × 17 in.
What was the rope-a-dope?
The tactic Muhammad Ali used in Kinshasa on 30 October 1974 against George Foreman: staying back on the ropes, arms high, letting the opponent punch the guard and the arms until he emptied himself, then countering. Ali put Foreman down in the eighth round and took back the heavyweight title.
Does the design go on in one piece?
Yes. Everything is cut from a single sheet and held by the clear transfer film: the spacing is set in advance. You apply the whole block at once and peel the film last.
How long should I wait after repainting the wall?
Manufacturers quote 10 days to 6 weeks, the figure given most often being 3 weeks: paint that is dry to the touch is still off-gassing and stops the adhesive taking. Simple test: stick a piece of masking tape overnight; if it still holds in the morning the wall is ready. The fitting guide covers the other surfaces.
Is there a version without the drawing, text only?
Yes, the Never Give Up italic sticker carries the same phrase as lettering alone, on two italic lines, in sizes up to 152 cm / 60 in wide and in gold and silver finishes.
