THE WBC heavyweight title belt won by Muhammad Ali in his famous Rumble In The Jungle fight has sold for £5.15million.
In the legendary 1974 Zaire fight with George Foreman, Ali used his rope-a-dope tactic to exhaust his rival.
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The gold-tone metal belt with green leather strap fetched 13 times its estimate of £400,000 at an auction in Dallas, Texas.
It was put up for sale by American businessman Troy Kinunen, who collected 1,600 items about the boxer over his lifetime.
A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions said: “Here we present the most important symbol of that glorious achievement, the WBC Heavyweight Championship belt awarded for Muhammad Ali’s victory over George Foreman in the storied ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
“Ali unleashed the thunder of the Foreman Storm and then unleashed lightning himself, dropping Goliath for the count and finally, seven years after being wrongfully stripped of his title, completed his long journey back to the top of the sport.
“The historical significance of the piece, arguably the most important box prize ever publicly auctioned, is simply immeasurable.”
Also at auction, the red robe worn by Muhammad Ali ahead of the ‘Fight of the Century’ with Joe Frazier fetched £290,000. ($348,000)
The legendary boxer walked to the ring at Madison Square Garden in the tailored velvet robe with his name on the back.
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Heavyweight title belt won by Muhammad Ali at Rumble In The Jungle sells for £5.15million
