The boxing trunks worn by Muhammad Ali during one of his most famous bouts are coming to auction next month.
Ali wore the trunks during his 1975 win over Joe Frazier at the "Thrilla in Manila", regarded as the most famous of the three bouts between the two heavyweights.
They will appear at a sports memorabilia auction in New Jersey, US with an open estimate but a $25,000 reserve.
We are confident that the trunks will easily surpass that price considering previous Ali auction results, and could even break the sport's world record for an auctioned item, such is the continued fascination with Ali and the historic "Thrilla" fight.
In November 2011 the shorts Ali wore in his 1971 defeat to Joe Frazier made a boxing world record $173,102 at auction.
 This Muhammad Ali-signed photo of the boxer with the Beatles is available now |
That figure represented an 8.25% pa rise in value when compared with the $57,500 achieved in 1997 for a pair of Ali trunks from his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" with George Foreman.
The trunks coming up for auction were in the possession of Ali's assistant trainer Drew "Bundini" Brown.
Muhammad Ali's autograph is also hot property at the moment. The boxer's signature has risen in value by 13.38% pa since 2000, according to the PFC40 Autograph Index.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a wonderful photograph of Ali with the Beatles, signed by the boxer, available today for £1,950 (approx. $3,050).
The April 16 auction will also feature a unique example of the 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card, which has a $300,000 estimate.
Paul Fraser Collectibles will bring you the results of these two fascinating sales in May. The final day of bidding is May 12. The auction opens on April 16.
