One of LeRoy Neiman’s drawings.
LOS ANGELES, July 12, 2005 – Legendary artist LeRoy Neiman, known by fight fans around the globe for his unique style and ability to capture the true essence of the sweet science with each stroke of his brush, has been commissioned to create the artwork for the upcoming middleweight Superfight between Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor, which will take place on Saturday, July 16, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Having LeRoy Neiman creating unique artwork for this fight is a thrill and an honor for us at Golden Boy Promotions,” said company President Oscar De La Hoya. “Mr. Neiman is pound for pound the greatest artist in the world, and having him involved with this event lets everyone know how important it is when the two best middleweights in the world square off.”
“Two of my favorite pieces are the pre-fight portraits of Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns which I painted in 1985,” said Neiman. “We all know how that legendary fight turned out, and I’m expecting the same kind of fireworks from Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor on July 16.”
Neiman’s pre-fight portraits of the champion, Hopkins, and the challenger, Taylor, will adorn the cover of the middleweight championship bout’s collectible program. Fight fans who are unable to attend the live event but who wish to purchase the program, may visit www.spboxing.com.
Best known for his brilliantly colored, stunningly energetic images of sporting events and leisure activities, LeRoy Neiman is probably the most popular living artist in the United States. His art is unique. It stands alone, without any real comparison. It is an art which has become controversial because Neiman has broken the barriers of many of the most hallowed assumptions of modern art history and contemporary criticism. It is an art that is loved by millions of people throughout America and around the world.
And while Neiman has thrilled fans of all sports with his art, boxing has always topped the list for the New York resident. A fixture at ringside of the sport’s biggest events for the past 50 years, if Leroy Neiman is sketching a fight, you know you’re at a fight to remember.
Neiman’s most recent project is the limited edition book The Leroy Neiman Sketchbook: 1964 Liston vs. Clay – 1965 Ali vs. Liston.
NeXt in Line is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment.
Tickets for NeXt in Line, priced at $75, $150, $250, $450, and $650, are available at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office outlet. Tickets also are sold at all Las Vegas TicketMaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.
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Neiman died on June 20, 2012, twelve days after his 91st birthday, in New York City. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.