'First-day' ceremony set for Thursday in Louisville to mark release of Muhammad Ali stamps

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- "The Greatest" will be honored this week with two U.S. postage stamps.

The Postal Service will release its new Forever stamps honoring Muhammad Ali on Thursday.

The boxing icon once said he should be on a postage stamp because "that's the only way I'll ever get licked."

Ali was a three-time heavyweight boxing champion, as well as an activist and humanitarian.

In 1998, Ali was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the nation's highest civilian honor. He and his wife, Lonnie Ali, founded the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease.

The Ali family said they're glad to see his legacy lives on.

"Seeing Muhammad's face on a stamp is so exciting for me because it's another part of his legacy that is going out into the world," Lonnie Ali said.

There will be 22 million commemorative Ali stamps sold. Once they're gone, they won't be reprinted.

Customers can preorder the stamps online, with shipping starting Jan. 15, 2026. A sheet of 20 stamps costs $15.60 before shipping and handling. USPS will share the celebration online using the hashtag #MuhammadAliStamps.

A "First-Day of Issue Ceremony" is being held Thursday at noon in Louisville in honor of the stamp's release. It's being held at the Angel's Envy Bourbon Club at UofL's L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on South Floyd Street. It is free and open to the public. Those wishing to attend are asked to register in advance by clicking here.

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'First-day' ceremony set for Thursday in Louisville to mark release of Muhammad Ali stamps