Heritage Auctions announced, on Monday, that the belt of the American boxing legend, Muhammad Ali Clay, which he wore in a famous match, was sold at an auction for $ 6.18 million.
It is the highest amount for a sports collectible in the history of the famous auction house.
The belt, which bears the words “Rumble in the Jungle”, was won by American businessman and owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsai.
Irsay said on Twitter that he was “proud to have won the belt.”
BREAKING—-Muhammad Ali’s
championship belt from 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ when he employed his rope-a-dope and defeated George Foreman—-just added to @IrsayCollection Just in time for the Aug. 2 show at Chicago’s Navy Pier (and Sept. 9 at Indy). Proud to be the steward!???? pic.twitter.com/REJOGV1Cwq— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 24, 2022
Muhammad Ali wore the belt in the WBC Heavyweight Championship once morest George Foreman, in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1974.
The fight witnessed Ali’s return to boxing following he was stripped of his boxing license and his title in the World Boxing Federation, for refusing to join the US armed forces to fight in Vietnam, seven years before the match.
The belt first entered the public domain in 1988 when the contents of the late boxing coach, Drew Bondini, were auctioned off.
Jim Irsai has a collection of many Ali memorabilia and has spent millions assembling his collection, which includes memorabilia from the worlds of sports, music, literature and politics.
The collection, complete with its new addition, will be shown to the public on August 2 in Chicago, and on September 9 in Indianapolis.
