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Laayoune – The heavyweight title belt from the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” fight that Muhammad Ali won in 1974 was sold at an auction on Sunday for MAD 63 million ($6.18 million).
Jim Irsay, the owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, a professional American football team, won the competitive battle for the belt, according to Dallas’ Heritage Auctions.
Irsay acknowledged in a tweet on Sunday that he bought the belt for his collection of rock music, American history, and pop culture artifacts.
BREAKING—-Muhammad Ali’s
championship belt from 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ when he employed his rope-a-dope and defeated George Foreman—-just added to @IrsayCollection Just in time for the Aug. 2 show at Chicago’s Navy Pier (and Sept. 9 at Indy). Proud to be the steward!? pic.twitter.com/REJOGV1Cwq— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 24, 2022
The belt will be on display at an exhibition on August 2 at Chicago’s Navy Pier and on September 9 in Indianapolis.
“After several hours of watching two bidders go back and forth over this belt,” Chris Ivy, the Heritage Director of Sports Auctions, said in a press release, calling the bidding “a battle worthy of the Rumble itself.”
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Jim Irsay already owned a number of other highly sought-after items from Muhammad Ali’s career, such as the 1965 walkout robe on which the name Muhammad Ali first appeared and the boxer’s sneakers from the epic 1975 “Thrilla in Manila” fight against Joe Frazier.
On August 2 in Chicago and on September 9 in Indianapolis, Irsay will present the public with a full exhibition of this collection, including the “Rumble in the Jungle” belt, its newest acquisition.
