Muhammad Ali’s most famous boxing glove goes to auction

A boxing glove worn by Muhammad Ali is expected to sell for millions when it goes up for auction.

The Baily’s of Glastonbury left-hand boxing was worn by Ali – then Cassius Clay – during his 1963 fight against Henry Cooper. It’s considered one of the most famous gloves in the history of boxing due to a split in it, made by Ali’s trainer, Angelo Dundee.

Dundee allegedly widened an already existent rip to buy time for Ali so that the fourth round of the match would be extended as a new glove was sought out, buying crucial time for the now-legendary boxer.

The 1963 fight has gone down in boxing history for several reasons.

First is it leading to a requirement that an extra pair of boxing gloves are available. Additionally, it’s notable as a rare fight – one of only four – in which Ali was knocked down in the ring. Although Ali was eventually declared the winner after the fifth round.

Now, the red sheep skin glove from that game is up for auction by Stuart Bull Auctions. After a similar pair of gloves went to auction by Christie’s in 2001, Stuart Bull has assured of the provenance of this glove.

“I declare this glove to be genuine. I’ve always been aware of it’s significance, safety and provenance”, Richard Mayers, managing director of Baily’s who produced the original glove stated in a letter.

The online auction, which ends on 31 October, is expected to fetch between £4-6 million (€4.8-7.2 million).

It’s believed the right-hand glove from the bout currently belongs to a member of the Qatari royal family.

Stuart Bull has traced the origin of the glove to prove its provenance. It was manufactured by Baily’s Tanneries of Glastonbury in 1963, after they were contracted by the British Boxing Board of Control. The company made gloves for both this fight and the 1966 rematch.

After the fight, the glove was returned to Baily’s factory for inspection. It was then kept by the factory by Mayers. After Mayers’ death, it was gifted to the Sellers family in 1992, where it has remained until the Stuart Bull auction.

Alongside the glove, the winning bidder will also take home a 70-page dossier of the glove’s provenance, documenting the thousands of hours of research the Stuart Bull team put into ensuring this is the genuine article.