Ali’s £5m ‘Rumble’ belt
EVEN Muhammad Ali may have been floored by how much his Rumble in the Jungle world championship belt has sold for.
Won during legendary October 1974 bout with George Foreman in Zaire, it has been bought for £5.15million.
Ali absorbed punishment before springing off the ropes to knock out Foreman in the eighth round, watched by 50million people on pay per view.
The gold-coloured metal belt, with a green leather strap, fetched 13 times its £400,000 estimate with Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas. It was put up for sale by American businessman Troy Kinunen, who has collected 1600 items relating to the boxer during his lifetime.
A Heritage Auctions spokesman said: “The historical significance of the piece, arguably the most important boxing award ever made available at public auction, is immeasurable.”
The red velvet robe worn by Ali before the Madison Square Garden “Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazier in February 1971 fetched £290,000.