The Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX) is partnering with world-renowned photographer Christina Jansen and Dublin-based NFT agency, dMerch.io to bring to life the Muhammad Ali Series 1 digital collection. The collection contains 136 unique digital collectables, all showcasing the vibrant personality of Ali himself and will be available on WAX blockchain starting on August 10, 2021, at 1 pm EST / 10 am PST.
Throughout his iconic 21-year professional career, Ali was unconventional and incredible for the world to watch. He was an Olympic gold medalist, accumulated 56 victories, and was the first boxer in history to claim the heavyweight championship belt three times.
In 1986, Jansen and Ali met for the first time at a commercial shoot at Fulham Studios. Instantaneously, the duo connected, and Jansen admired Ali’s humble nature. Since her encounter with Ali, Jansen has gone on to photograph celebrities, athletes, and fashion icons.
“Photographing Muhammad Ali was one of the most inspiring jobs I have ever had. Over a period of two weeks on and off the set I witnessed how he treated everyone who approached him the same. It didn’t matter to Ali where you came from or what you did. I felt so blessed to have the chance to talk to him and get to know this great man like a close friend. Ali told me his Philosophy in life – If you reach for the moon you might end up next door, but if you reach for the stars you will get to the moon. He encouraged me and others to reach for their goals and not be afraid to take risks in life,” said Jansen.
Adam Bouktila, COO for dMerch, praised Christina’s photographs which have not been seen by a wider audience:
“This collection is amazing for the close connection between Ali and his photographer. These are not paparazzi shots taken at random. These are beautifully crafted images taken over a two-week period where subject and artist forged a close and powerful connection. The connection makes the images come alive.
“And with NFT technology we can now share these images with the world. As a Mohammed Ali fan, this is a huge privilege for me to be involved in this project.”
Since his passing in 2016, Ali’s life and love for mentoring others will be revealed through Jansen’s intimate, never-before-seen photographs for fans to collect and enjoy as digital collectables on the WAX Blockchain. In her very first WAX collection, Jansen will offer the proceeds of an extremely special “Boxing Futures” pack featuring a single, ultra-rare Muhamad Ali digital photograph to aid Boxing Futures, an organization that aims to help disadvantaged youth by providing a safe space for them to improve their physical and mental health through boxing all while learning to build relationships and find motivation.
“This collection is both a personal and professional triumph that allows us to give back to a deserving group and pay homage to Muhammad Ali’s legacy,” says Jansen.
The intimate photos of the boxing superstar will be available in six (6) ring-worthy rarities, including:
– Classic
– Negative
– Gallery
– Photographer
– Championship
– Behind the scenes
The Muhammad Ali Series 1 digital collection will feature 5,000 Classic Packs, 3,000 Photographer Packs, and 1,000 Boxing Futures Packs and are available in the following sizes:
– Classic Packs containing 5 digital collectables for $19.99
– Photographer Packs containing 25 digital collectables for $49.99
– Boxing Futures containing 1 digital collectable for $9.99
