The boxing gloves worn by Muhammad Ali in the 1971 ‘Fight of the Century’ against Joe Frazier sold for $606,375 at auction early Sunday. Goldin Auctions offered the gloves on consignment from Jeff Rosenberg of TRISTAR Productions, who had owned them 
for the past two years. The name of the person who purchased them this time hasn’t been revealed. The price included a 20% buyer’s premium.
The gloves turned out to be a nice investment for Rosenberg, who paid $388,375 in an auction just two years ago. They had been offered in Goldin’s live auction held in Atlantic City during the National Sports Collectors Convention earlier this month but didn’t meet the reserve. They were then put into a supplementary online auction that closed early Sunday morning after extended bidding.
Ali lost the 15-round decision to Frazier at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971. Providing evidence that virtually anything tied to an historic event will find a buyer was the sale of Frazier’s athletic supporter from the fight, which sold for $10,412.
In all the 1,500 lots of memorabilia that sold at the combined live and catalog auction generated $5.8 million in sales.
“The prices realized in our live and catalog auction this week reinforce that the sports memorabilia market is vibrant and that collectors are not only passionate for rare items from legendary figures like Ruth, Mantle, Jordan, Ali and Gretzky but also the burgeoning market for boxing, hockey and Olympic sports,” said Ken Goldin, Founder of Goldin Auctions.
Among the other items offered in the auction were a pair of Michael Jordan game uniforms. One dating from the Bulls’ record-setting 1996-97 season and carrying a team letter of authenticity sold for $69,825 while a uniform from Jordan’s time with the 1992 U.S. Olympic ‘dream team’ brought $62,475.
Other sales included:
Lot #108 – Tupac Shakur handwritten lyrics from his personal notebook ($31,850)
Lot #106 – 2014-15 Kobe Bryant Game Used Lakers home white jersey worn on 11/16/14 when Kobe scored a season high 44 points ($29,400)
Lot #92 – 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics meteorite-embedded gold medal in presentation box. One of just 50 produced ($24,500)
Lot #101 – 1978 Super Bowl X11 full game ticket for Cowboys-Broncos game. Graded PSA/DNA MT 8 (current bid $23,379)
Lot #226 – 1991 Washington Redskins Player Super Bowl Ring – Terry Orr ($22,050)
Lot #72 – 2013 Peyton Manning game used Broncos road jersey worn on 12-1-13 versus Kansas City during a game in which Manning threw five TD passes ($19,600)
Lot #510 – 1976-2008 Yankee Stadium Locker used by such Yankee greats as Don Mattingly, Graig Nettles and most recently Mariano Rivera. Includes Steiner LOA ($19,600)
Lot #1018 – Ichiro PSA 10 Trading Card Collection featuring 219 different Ichiro cards all graded PSA GEM MT 10 ($13,475)
Lot #114 – Pete Rose Autographed Line-Up Card from the game in which he recorded hit 4,192 to surpass Ty Cobb’s MLB record ($11,637.50)
Lot #98 – 1963 Mickey Mantle Topps #200 PSA MINT 9 ($11,637.50)
Lot #988 – 1966-67 Topps #35 Bobby Orr Rookie Card KSA GEM MINT 10($11,025)
Lot #110 – Ichiro Rookie Season Game-used and signed bat ($11,025)
Related Stories:
Ali’s Handwritten Speech Asking for Spinks Rematch Up for Auction
Ali’s Last Boxing Trunks Head to Auction
Abdul-Jabbar Collection, 2009 Bowman Chrome Trout Top $6 Million Goldin Sale
The Chernin Group, Sports Stars Make $40 Million Investment in Goldin Auctions
Jewels in the Junk – 1990s NBA Sleepers
Notes: NFL Draft Night Instant Cards; Lucky Montana Collector Pulls 2 Gems; New Goldin Hires While CCG Ups Ante
Rare, Original Ali Fight Posters Chronicle Champ’s History
Historical, Personal Ali Items on the Block at SCP Auctions
