An auction held on September 10 2016 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas was dedicated to the “The Greatest” and featured Muhammad Ali’s Personal WBC Heavyweight Championship Belt, first discovered 30 years ago in an abandoned stage locker in California.
Ali earned this belt in a victory against George Forman in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” bout. The belt earned top lot honors at $358,500 among other famous artifacts of the boxer’s legendary career. The auction made over $1.4 million, signifying the still-alive interest in the life and career of the exceptional athlete.
1970’s Muhammad Ali WBC Heavyweight Championship Belt Earned in Victory over George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Photo Courtesy: Heritage Auctions.
“Ali’s WBC belt is one of only two known to exist,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports collectibles. “It was believed to be lost to history until it was found along with a trove of high-end memorabilia in a famous 1988 storage locker discovery. The entire hobby has been waiting for it to come to auction ever since.”
Other items at the auction included Ali’s fight-worn trunks worn the night of the fight against Forman to win the WBC, which sold for $143,400; a hand-written letter sent to Life magazine in 1964 which addressees his conversion to Islam, sold for $131,450; a pair of gloves from 1964 (worn as Cassius Clay) in a fight against Sonny Liston ended at $77,675; and the iconic Ali fight-worn robe from his second bout with Leon Spinks in 1978 ended at $65,725.
1978 Muhammad Ali Fight with Leon Spinks II Bout. Photo Courtesy: Heritage Auctions.