Items From Muhammad Ali’s Life To Be Auctioned Off

Muhammad Ali’s 1974 World Boxing Council heavyweight championship boxing belt and a handwritten letter announcing his conversion to Islam are among items that will hit the auction block in September, in the largest such sale since the legendary boxer’s death in June.

Items From Muhammad Ali’s Life To Be Auctioned Off

Nearly 80 artifacts will be sold in total, with most of the items coming from collectors and none coming from Ali’s family, who have several significant artifacts in their possession.

Ali died on June 3 at age 74, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. After his passing, tributes from millions of fans around the world arose. Ali’s funeral was held in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

The once Christian Baptist became the most renown convert to Islam in American history when he announced he had joined the Black Muslim movement under the guidance of Malcolm X.

Also included in the list of items are the trunks Ali wore for his “Rumble in the Jungle” victory over George Foreman in Zaire in 1974, and the robe he wore during a 1976 fight against Ken Norton III.

The trunks are expected to sell for $150,000.

Kathleen Guzman, managing director of Heritage Auctions, said the Feb. 18, 1964 letter followed an interview the boxer had done the same day with Life magazine announcing he was changing his name from his birth name, Cassius Clay. 

“The editors, especially Jack McDermott, were worried that he would disavow saying that when the actual Life magazine article came out. So he ripped off a piece of paper and had him (Ali) sign an affidavit that said clearly he was changing his name,” Guzman said.

Heritage stated the WBC belt is the first of those won by the three-time world heavyweight champion to come to auction, and is expected to sell for some $600,000. The letter is expected to sell for upwards of $100,000.

Earlier this month, Ali’s fight-worn boxing gloves from his famous 1971 encounter with Joe Frazier sold for $606,000 at a different auction house.

The sale organized by Heritage Auctions in New York will conclude on September 10.

NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS – PREMIUM RATES APPLY) Muhammad Ali onstage during the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s 2010 Benefit ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s’ at The Waldorf=Astoria on November 13, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research)

Article by Pablo Mena