There is a reason Muhammad Ali called himself “The Greatest.” The late heavyweight champion handled a microphone better than any other boxer. “The Louisville Lip” could promote a fight or a cause better than any other athlete, taking his cue from the flamboyant professional wrestler of the 1950s, Gorgeous George. From the time he won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in … [Read more...]
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The Bizarre, The Historic and The Most Memorable: Les Wolff’s Memorabilia Tales
This is Part 2 of a two-part series with sports memorabilia appraiser and authenticator Les Wolff. In Part 1, Wolff discussed his lecture series on the hobby and how to protect a collection. In Part 2, Wolff talks about his more memorable collecting moments. Les Wolff is known for his skills as an authenticator and appraiser of sports memorabilia. His work over more … [Read more...]
Muhammad Ali’s 1960 Hemmets Journal “Rookie Card”
While they weren’t found in packs of bubble gum or other consumer edibles, they are gradeable--and very rare. The 1960 Hemmets Journal Cassius Clay represents the first known trading card-like image of the man who would become a global icon. One of the six rated 8 is up for auction via Memory Lane with a current high bid of just under $3,000. One of the two … [Read more...]
Rare Ali-Liston II Fight Poster, Signed by Sonny, Up for Bid
It was one of the more bizarre sports stories of the 1960s. A much-anticipated rematch between the two biggest names in boxing shut down by a district attorney over concerns that the promoters were connected to organized crime and moved to, of all places, Lewiston, ME. Now, a poster for the Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston fight that was to take place at Boston Garden—is going on … [Read more...]
Rare Boxing Cards, Memorabilia Hit Auction Block
Fresh off the sale of hundreds of baseball items including a new find of 1914-15 Cracker Jack baseball cards, Love of the Game’s first boxing-exclusive auction is open. The “Ringside” catalog, set to close Saturday, includes 250 lots of boxing-specific cards and memorabilia, and is curated by Love of the Game Auctions in conjunction with Adam Warshaw, author of … [Read more...]
Howard Bingham’s Ali Collection Part of Major Auction
A large collection of Muhammad Ali memorabilia including fight worn gloves and personal items given to friend and biographer Howard Bingham are on the auction block. LA-based Julien’s Auctions is offering hundreds of pieces in its Icons and Idols auction, set to conclude Saturday, December 3. Among the items up for bid are the gloves that Ali wore in his December 7, … [Read more...]
Ali’s WBC Title Belt, Rumble Trunks Bring $500K Combined
The first Muhammad Ali heavyweight title belt ever to come to auction sold for $358,500 late Saturday night. The belt was one of 79 high-end Ali-focused lots sold in the special event launched by Heritage Auctions late last month. The WBC began awarding belts in 1976 and it's likely Ali received it during the midway point of his three-plus year reign as champion. Ali had … [Read more...]
Ali Auction Chronicles Champ’s Career
Two weeks after its last auction generated a whopping $13 million, Heritage Auctions is expected to generate another deep seven-figure sale—all focused on the late Muhammad Ali. The auction includes the only Ali heavyweight championship belt ever to come to auction. Already online, the auction includes 79 Ali-centric lots including the trunks worn in the fabled “Rumble in … [Read more...]
Ali’s Boxing Trunks Cartoon, Hand Wrap from Wepner Bout Up for Bid
He was brash and outspoken at times, but Muhammad Ali was a also a gentle jokester in the presence of friends and admirers. Evidence of that comes in the form of a pair of boxing trunks that carry Ali’s own depiction of a fight with Joe Frazier. The trunks have been in the possession of Frank Longwell, a fan and collector from Ohio, for over 40 years. Along with one of … [Read more...]
Ali’s ‘Fight of the Century’ Gloves Sell for $606,375
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% … [Read more...]
