Muhammad Ali’s WBC belt he won against George Foreman just sold for millions
The World Boxing Council heavyweight belt that Muhammad Ali won by defeating champion George Foreman in the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” fight in 1974, just went under the hammer for 6.18 million dollars at auction!
The winner of the belt was NFL Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, according to Heritage Auctions in Dallas.
Irsay confirmed that he acquired the belt for his collection of sports memorabilia. The belt will go on display August 2 at Chicago’s Navy Pier and September 9 in Indianapolis.
In 2016, the belt sold for $358,500, and a year later for $120,000. It is one of Ali’s two WBC belts, according to Heritage Auctions. The other is part of a museum collection that is not for sale.
The 1974 fight was Boxing’s most memorable zenith. Ali stopped the fearsome puncher George Foreman, against the odds, to reclaim the heavyweight title in the African nation of Zaire.
Ali won the fight via a stunning eighth-round knockout, after spending the prior seven rounds absorbing 'Big George's' punches on the ropes, which was a tactic that became known as 'Rope-a-dope' forever after.
The historic event was attended by 60,000 fans. Similarly, he set a record of 50 million viewers watching the fight on Pay Per View.
The fight grossed an estimated $100 million dollars in worldwide revenue.
