About

The Thrilla Archive is a curated body of original photographic material documenting Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III.

The archive centers on photographs made by Lowell K. Riley, whose close association with Muhammad Ali afforded him rare ringside access during one of the most significant fights in boxing history. Riley’s work offers an intimate perspective on the event, capturing not only the action inside the ring but the atmosphere surrounding it.

The archive is stewarded and curated by photographer and historian Justin Pestana, whose work reflects a deep interest in documentary photography and the preservation of photographic history. The archive was created to ensure that Riley’s images—and the story they tell—remain accessible to editors, historians, filmmakers, institutions, and boxing enthusiasts alike.

Through careful curation and presentation, the Thrilla Archive seeks to preserve these photographs as part of the broader visual history of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and one of the most consequential fights ever staged.