October 2016 Auction Ends Thursday, October 27th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/27/2016
Scarce pair of boxing gloves, signed and used by Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) to train for his second professional fight against Herb Siler in 1960. As an 18 year old, Clay signs and dates the left glove, ''From / Cassius Marcellus Clay / Dec. 19-60'', one week before he bested Siler in a TKO to advance his burgeoning boxing career. The long ink signature measures nearly 5'' long and 1.5'' tall and is unusual in that it includes his middle name, Marcellus. On the right glove is written in white, ''CASSIUS CLAY USED IN TRAINING HERB SILER 1960'' and inside the cuff of both gloves is written ''C.C.'' for identification purposes at the gym. These training gloves come with an LOA from noted Muhammad Ali collector Pete Morkovin who states that they were once part of the Columbia Street Gym Collection in Louisville, Kentucky. The gym was run by Joe Martin, the policeman who discovered Cassius Clay and introduced him to boxing after Clay had his bicycle stolen as a youth. Red leather boxing gloves by Spartan Sporting Goods Manufacturing Company include the original white laces. The gloves show heavy use, but remain in very good condition with no tears. Clay's signature is strong, but lacks some contrast against the red leather. Among the earliest gloves attributed to Cassius Clay and scarce as signed.
Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali, Signed Boxing Gloves Used for His 2nd Professional Fight in 1960 -- Large Signature Measures Nearly 5'' Long, ''Cassius Marcellus Clay''
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