Muhammad Ali To Be Honored With First-Ever Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp

Muhammad Ali once joked that he should be a postage stamp because “that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.” Now, nearly a decade after his death, the quip has become reality.

Widely regarded as the most famous and influential boxer of all time — and a cultural force who fused athletic brilliance with political conviction and showmanship — Ali is being honored with his first-ever commemorative U.S. postage stamp.

“As sort of the guardian of his legacy, I’m thrilled. I’m excited. I’m ecstatic,” said Lonnie Ali, the champ’s wife of nearly 30 years, in an interview with The Associated Press. “Because every time people look at that stamp, they will remember him. He will be in the forefront of their consciousness, and for me, that’s a thrill.”

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

Now, the three-time heavyweight champion’s quip is becoming reality.

Widely regarded as the most famous and influential boxer of all time, and a cultural force who… pic.twitter.com/M6KOWQrgX8

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) January 12, 2026

A fighter in the ring, a humanitarian in life

Ali died in 2016 at age 74 after living with Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades. Over the course of his life, he received countless honors, including an Olympic gold medal in 1960, the United Nations Messenger of Peace award in 1998, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

Lonnie Ali said the stamp carries special meaning because it reflects more than her husband’s boxing legacy. It highlights his lifelong mission of compassion and connection.

“He did it one person at a time,” she said. “And that’s such a lovely way to connect with people — to send them a letter and use this stamp to reinforce that life of connection.”

Stamp unveiling and limited release

The Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp will be officially unveiled Thursday during a first-day-of-issue ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky — Ali’s hometown and the home of the Muhammad Ali Center.

The stamp features a black-and-white Associated Press photograph from 1974 showing Ali in his iconic boxing stance. Each sheet of 20 stamps also includes a second image of Ali in a pinstripe suit, acknowledging his work as an activist and humanitarian.

The U.S. Postal Service has printed 22 million stamps. Once they sell out, they will not be reprinted. As Forever Stamps, they will always retain their First-Class Mail value.

“This is the ultimate tribute,” Lonnie Ali said. “It will be part of his legacy — one of the shining stars of his legacy.”

How the stamp came to be

According to Lisa Bobb-Semple, director of stamp services for the USPS, discussions about honoring Ali with a stamp began shortly after his death. USPS policy requires individuals featured on stamps to be deceased for at least three years, with the exception of U.S. presidents.

Public momentum grew through the #GetTheChampAStamp campaign, launched by a friend of Ali, which helped generate widespread support.

“We’re really excited that the stars aligned to bring this stamp to fruition,” Bobb-Semple said. “It’s one we’ve always wanted to bring to the market.”

Stamp selections are overseen by the Citizen Stamps Advisory Committee, which reviews public submissions quarterly. Once approved, each stamp undergoes an extensive design and legal review process.

Antonio Alcalá, the stamp’s art director and designer, said hundreds of images were considered before selecting the final photographs.

“Postage stamps are miniature works of art meant to reflect the American experience,” Alcalá said. “The Muhammad Ali stamps are a great example of that.”

Beyond boxing: Ali’s lasting voice

Born Cassius Clay Jr., Ali changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1960s and became one of the most outspoken Black public figures of his era. In 1967, he refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War — a stance that cost him his heavyweight title and sidelined him from boxing for more than three years.

Convicted of draft evasion, Ali was sentenced to prison, though he remained free during the appeals process. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1971, further solidifying his place as a global symbol of conscience and resistance.

In later years, Ali used his platform to promote peace, religious understanding, and humanitarian causes worldwide, even as Parkinson’s disease limited his physical abilities.

A message for today

The release of the Muhammad Ali stamp comes at a time of deep political and social division. Lonnie Ali said her husband’s approach would remain the same if he were alive today.

“We have to mobilize Muhammad’s life,” she said, “and engage in the same kinds of acts of kindness and compassion that he did every day.”

Now, with his image traveling across the country on envelopes and letters, Muhammad Ali’s legacy continues — stamped permanently into American history.