WRITING HISTORY
THREE EXCEPTIONAL PENS THAT TELL THE MUHAMMAD ALI STORY.
01 SPECIAL EDITION
It was in Miami in 1964 that Ali knocked out world champion Sonny Liston to become the new heavyweight champion of the world. The Montblanc Great Characters Muhammad
Ali Special Edition marks this momentous event. Its cone is engraved with the words “Miami 1964”, while its gold-coated cap ring is engraved with an outline of Ali’s victory pose and the inscription “TKO-W 7 (15)” (that translates to “technical knockout in the seventh of 15 rounds”).
Paying tribute to the sport itself, four engraved lines on the cone take inspiration from the ropes around a boxing ring. Textured matte black precious resin, which seems wrapped around the pen barrel, is a nod to the bandages boxers use under their gloves to protect their hands.
02 LIMITED EDITION 1942
Marking Ali’s winning fights in 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire, and in 1975 in Manila, this edition is limited to 1,942 pieces — a nod to the year of Ali’s birth.
The bandage-inspired barrel here is coated with yellow gold, while four green lacquered lines represent the boxing ring ropes.
The pen’s striking black and white pattern pays homage to the coat that Ali was wearing when he entered the stadium in 1974 to fight then-reigning heavyweight champion George Foreman, whom he defeated. A fun touch used here and on the other two writing instruments in the collection is the skeletonised pen clip, designed to look like a victory belt.
03 LIMITED EDITION 98
This colourful 98-piece edition is a reference to 1998, the year Ali was named a “Messenger of Peace” at the United Nations. His humanitarian beliefs are also represented by a dove, crafted as a solid gold inlay on the pen’s cap. The yellowgold nib features a portrait of
Ali surrounded by six stars, referring to his principles: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality.
Another engraved gold inlay, depicting a pair of boxing gloves, reminds us of Ali’s dedication to the sport. His third title win in New Orleans in 1978 is remembered here. An inscription on the cap ring reads “W 15 (15)”, a reference to Ali’s victory over Leon Spinks after 15 rounds by jury vote.