Heavyweight title belt won by Muhammad Ali at Rumble In The Jungle sells for £5.15million
THE WBC heavyweight title belt won by Muhammad Ali at his famous Rumble In The Jungle fight has sold for £5.15million.
The legendary Zaire bout with George Foreman in 1974 saw Ali employ his “rope-a-dope” tactics to exhaust his rival.
The gold-coloured metal belt, with green leather strap, fetched 13 times its £400,000 estimate at auction in Dallas, Texas.
It was consigned for sale by American businessman Troy Kinunen, who has collected 1,600 items relating to the boxer during his lifetime.
A Heritage Auctions spokesperson said: “Here we present the foremost symbol of that glorious achievement, the WBC Heavyweight Championship belt earned for Muhammad Ali’s victory over George Foreman in the fabled ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
“Ali drained the thunder from the Foreman storm and then unleashed lightning of his own, dropping Goliath for the count and, finally, seven years after his title had been unjustly stripped, completing his long journey back to the mountain top of the sport.
“The historical significance of the piece, arguably the most important boxing award ever made available at public auction, is quite simply immeasurable.”
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Also in the sale, the red robe worn by Muhammad Ali before the ‘fight of the century’ with Joe Frazier fetched £290,000. ($348,000)
The legendary boxer headed to the ring at Madison Square Garden in the custom-made velvet garment with his name on the back.