Newsletter – Volume #1
Fighter’s Heaven
It will be four years since Fighter’s Heaven had their grand opening in June of 2019. Several years were spent restoring this historic site after Mike Madden purchased the Camp shortly after Ali’s death in 2016. Much care and thought has been put into recreating how the training camp looked when Ali trained here. Thousands of visitors have toured the Camp since its re-opening and we couldn’t be more thrilled with all the positive comments and experiences we’ve received from these visitors.
Over the last few years we’ve enjoyed hosting film crews from several documentaries, including Ken Burn’s “Muhammad Ali”, HBO’s “Muhammad Ali, What’s My Name”, and several others. The Camp has also been featured on ESPN, PBS and other TV programs. We’ve enjoyed visits from Muhammad’s children: Khaliah, Miya and Muhammad, Jr., as well as members of Ali’s inner circle such as Gene Kilroy and Harold Hazzard. We’ve also had celebrity visits from Karl Malone, Ronda Rousey, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, author Jonathan Eig, Freddie Mitchell, Larry Holmes, Tim Witherspoon and others.
Time Capsule Buried
Fighter’s Heaven welcomed visitors and special guests in June to bury a special time capsule. 2022 commemorates 50 years since the Camp was first built by Ali, and the capsule is scheduled to be opened in another 50 years (2072). The special “Heritage Time Capsule” was awarded to Fighter’s Heaven by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office as part of the “Community Initiative Award”. The time capsule was filled with articles, photographs and memorabilia on the history of Ali’s old training camp, as well as info about the extensive restoration work that has been done. Owner Mike Madden was in from California for the special event. Other special guests included Shelby Splain of the PA State Historic Preservation Office; Todd Mealy, author who wrote story on Fighter’s Heaven for Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine, Harold Hazzard, one-driver and assistant to Muhammad Ali; and Lynda Pollack Schiffer, daughter of Bernie Pollack, who sold the land for the camp to Ali.
Beach Boys’ Mike Love Visits Camp
Mike Love, one of the co-founders of the Beach Boys, paid a visit to “Fighter’s Heaven” this summer. He was accompanied by friend Gene Kilroy. Love was very impressed while touring the restored camp. “It’s really neat to see it in person.” He said he felt the presence of Ali as he walked the grounds.
Ali Author Jon Eig
Fighter’s Heaven welcomed author Jonathan Eig in July. He is the author of the acclaimed “Ali: A Life”, a comprehensive biography on the Champ. It was the Winner of the 2018 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing and was named best book of the year by Sports Illustrated. “This place is the Greatest, a real jewel”, stated Eig. “Anyone who has an interest in Ali or American history needs to visit this amazing site.”
Fighter’s Heaven Gives Back
Fighter’s Heaven announced donations made to several organizations: Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Avenues Foundation Pottsville, and St Patrick’s Pottsville Area Soup Kitchen.
Muhammad’s daughter Khaliah Ali Wertheimer was on hand for the ceremony. Fighter’s Heaven does not charge admission to tour our facility, but donations are gladly accepted. These donations and any sales of T-shirts or sweatshirts go directly to these worthy organizations – all in Muhammad Ali’s spirit of “giving”.
USA Boxing Reunion
In 2022 Fighter’s Heaven hosted the USA Boxing Alumni Association reunion event. The event was organized by “boxing ambassador” John “Iceman” Scully and Chris Cugliari, Director of USA Boxing Alumni Association. Some of the former boxers in attendance included Tim Witherspoon, Iran Barkley, Marlon Starling, Montell Griffin, Michael Olijade, Pito Cardona, Travis Kauffman, Jimmy Lange Augustus Tyler, Joey Figueroa, Randall Crippin, Nate Miller, Ron Turner, Harold Knight and many others.
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