A group of more than 1,000 boxing items, nearly all from the careers of two of the most influential figures in the sport, Muhammad Ali and Jack Johnson, are being sold at auction.
The curated collection being offered by Goldin includes a one-of-a-kind ring owned by Ali, which officially commemorates his third heavyweight championship. Goldin calls it “one of the most important pieces of Ali memorabilia ever put up for auction.” It carries a presale estimate of $100,000.
In addition, the auction features a number of one-of-a-kind items that Ali gifted to his personal chef, Michael Holdridge. The collection includes Ali’s personally owned Quran that he drew a landscape on and inscribed “To Mike.” There are also a variety of boxing illustrations done by Ali, each of which he signed.
The auction also includes over 750 items from Johnson, who is revered as one of the most iconic athletes in the sport. Historians have noted that Johnson helped usher in the Civil Rights movement by being the first Black heavyweight champion nearly 40 years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.
After Johnson defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in 1908, he became an international celebrity, retaining the World Champion title until 1915. Presented in this auction is the largest photo collection ever assembled from Johnson’s historic career including a number of original photos, news-service photos, cabinet photos, snapshots and postcards that tell the tale of Johnson’s life and times.
“This collection truly encapsulates the history of boxing and the incredible athletes that made the sport what it is,” said Goldin Executive Chairman and Founder Ken Goldin. “We’re proud to showcase our biggest boxing sale to date with a wealth of items which celebrate legendary boxers who overcame adversity both personally and professionally, paving the way for the next generation of star athletes ahead of them.”
The entire collection is predicted to sell for over $1 million total.
Other items up for sale include:
- Jack Johnson Signed, Inscribed Fighting Pose Vintage Postcard
- Jack Johnson Signed, Inscribed Business Card
- Original Signed, Inscribed Vintage Photograph of Jack Johnson
- Muhammad Ali Personally Owned and Signed Everlast Boxing Shorts
- Muhammad Ali Signed Everlast Right Hand Boxing Glove – Featuring Hand Drawn Boxing Ring with Crowd
- 1898-1900 Jim Jeffries Used, American Flag Sash Belt
- 1910 Large Vintage Framed Panorama of Jim Jeffries vs. Jack Johnson Championship Fight
- 1963 Sonny Liston vs. Floyd Patterson – Heavyweight Championship Fight Live Ringside Banner
- Vintage and modern boxing cards
The auction continues through July 12.
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