Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ belt sells for US$6.1M
DALLAS –
Muhammad Ali’s championship belt from his 1974 “Rumble within the Jungle” heavyweight title struggle was bought at public sale on Sunday for US$6.18 million.
The winner of the heated competitors for the belt was Indianapolis Colts proprietor Jim Irsay, based on Heritage Auctions in Dallas.
In a tweet Sunday, Irsay confirmed he acquired the belt for his assortment of rock music, American historical past and popular culture memorabilia that’s at the moment touring the nation.
The belt might be displayed on Aug. 2 at Chicago’s Navy Pier and on Sept. 9 in Indianapolis.
“Proud to be the steward!” Irsay tweeted.
“After a number of hours of watching two bidders travel over this belt, this proved to be a battle worthy of the Rumble itself,” Chris Ivy, Heritage’s director of sports activities auctions, stated in a press release.
The 1974 struggle was considered one of boxing’s most memorable moments. Ali stopped the fearsome George Foreman to recapture the heavyweight title within the African nation of Zaire. Ali received the struggle in a knockout within the eighth spherical.
