Boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s former Cherry Hill, New Jersey, mansion, once home to one of the most celebrated athletes in sports history, is back on the market.
Where The Greatest Once Lived
The 6,688-square-foot Mediterranean-style ranch at 1121 Winding Drive is listed for $1.9 million, about $100,000 more than its previous asking price three years ago. Set on 1.5 acres, the six-bedroom, five-bathroom home reflects both the legacy of its former owner and years of modern renovation.
Ali lived in the South Jersey suburb from 1971 to 1973, during a pivotal stretch in his career and personal life. At the time, the heavyweight boxing champion was among the most recognizable figures in the world, known as much for his activism and bravado as for his success in the ring.
“I made a little mansion out of it. I’ve got a lot of land,” Ali told Philadelphia magazine in the 1970s.
The home was well suited to a global icon. According to the listing, the estate features a large kitchen with a center island and custom cabinetry, a greenhouse-style sunroom, expansive living and entertaining areas, and a finished lower level that includes a personal gym and a 12-foot wet bar. Outside, the property includes an in-ground pool and hot tub, along with adjacent basketball and tennis courts.
Ali purchased the home in 1971 for $103,000. He moved to Cherry Hill shortly after his highly publicized loss to Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden. Photographs from the era show Ali relaxing and spending time with his family at the home, including playing with his young daughter Maryum.
He left the property a few years later, relocating to Chicago after his friend and local political power broker Major Coxson was shot and killed in his nearby home. According to The New York Times, safety concerns played a role in Ali’s decision to move. Ali later sold the Cherry Hill residence to a major McDonald’s franchisee for $175,000.
Before moving to New Jersey, Ali lived in a home in West Philadelphia’s Overbrook neighborhood, which was later purchased by the grandparents of future NBA star Kobe Bryant.
The Cherry Hill property has changed significantly since Ali’s time there. The current owners, who bought the home in 2014, replaced much of the original 1970s decor with a more contemporary design. A koi pond once associated with the property was converted into a courtyard with a fire pit, creating a central outdoor gathering space.
Still, some elements of Ali’s presence remain. The home retains a prayer room on the lower level, lined with bookshelves, a feature that speaks to Ali’s faith and personal routine.
“The main draw is really the entertainment spaces,” said Nicholas Alvini of Keller Williams, who is listing the property. “There’s a spiral staircase from the main level to downstairs, and you walk right into this large bar area with tables, chairs and a large TV setup. It really is a great entertaining house.”
In recent years, the home has also been used as a short-term rental, drawing controversy in the community. According to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer, police were called to the property 97 times between 2018 and 2019 in response to noise complaints and large parties. The incidents prompted Cherry Hill Township Council to consider banning Airbnb-style rentals before ultimately tabling the proposal after residents spoke against it.
Now, more than 50 years after Ali first called it home, the Cherry Hill mansion is once again seeking a new owner, one willing to pay for a piece of sports history, along with a sprawling estate built for both privacy and spectacle.
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