MUHAMMAD ALI is once again making headlines in the boxing world, this time in the realm of auctioneering.
‘The Greatest’, who sadly passed away on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74, gained worldwide fame for his incredible skills in the ring and his charismatic persona outside of it.
One of Ali’s fiercest rivals was Joe Frazier, with their trilogy of fights between 1971 and 1975 becoming legendary. Their final showdown in the Philippines on October 1 pushed both men to their limits in the boxing ring.
After 14 rounds in the Philippine heat, Ali emerged victorious over Frazier. Frazier’s eyes were swollen shut, prompting his trainer Eddie Futch to stop the fight. This marked Ali’s second consecutive win over Frazier, following their memorable clash in “The Fight of the Century” on March 8, 1971.
(Original Caption) Ali glances a right off Joe Frazier during the 7th round. Ali won a TKO in the 14th round.
Now, nearly fifty years after their legendary battle, the trunks Ali wore during the fight are set to be auctioned off.
The iconic Everlast white trunks with black trim, featuring Ali’s autograph, are expected to fetch a staggering $6 million at Sotheby’s in New York City. The current bid stands at $3.8 million with the auction closing on April 12.
The trunks were initially in the possession of Drew “Bundini” Brown, a member of Ali’s training team, before they were discovered in a storage unit after his passing. The trunks were later acquired by foot specialist and surgeon Andrew Heller, who sold them through Sotheby’s in 2002 before they went to auction in 2012.