1966 Muhammad Ali vs. Henry Cooper II Both Pairs of Fight Worn Gloves with Provenance....

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Blood-soaked gloves from both combatants in Ali's fourth title defense!

1966 Muhammad Ali vs. Henry Cooper II Both Pairs of Fight Worn Gloves with Provenance. Rightly or wrongly, many British fight fans believed that their fellow countryman Henry Cooper had been robbed of victory in his first meeting with the 1960 Gold Medalist, that Angelo Dundee had intentionally damaged one of Clay's gloves after a knockdown to buy his dazed fighter some extra time. So, despite the fact that he had become Heavyweight Champion (and Muhammad Ali) in the interim, the 46,000 fans packed into London's Arsenal Stadium had high hopes of an upset as the pair re-engaged on May 21, 1966.

But the Brits would quickly lose hope as they watched the master in his absolute prime, and wiser from the brief drama of the first bout. Cooper said after the fight, "I still had the style that could upset him. But I must say that he's a quick learner, Ali. The second fight he learned. He would stand no nonsense." Cooper rarely found flesh at the terminus of his swings as Ali stuck and moved, ending the fight by inflicting a gaping wound over Cooper's eye that forced the referee to wave off further combat in the sixth.

Both pairs of gloves from this fourth title defense for Ali are on offer here, documented by a letter of provenance from the son of the former Middleweight Champion of the British Navy during the Second World War, who attests they were gifted to his father by promoter Jack Solomons. The eight-ounce (8 oz.) gloves bear the wrist labeling of "Baily's Glastonbury" and perfectly match fight footage. The Ali gloves have "MA" and the notations of the inspecting staff, while Cooper's reveal the same form of initials and notations. Some dark staining on the gloves may very well be blood--take a look at photos from the fight and you'll see there was plenty of it. Letter of provenance from son of original recipient. LOA from Craig Hamilton. LOA from Heritage Auctions.

Guide Value or Estimate: $100,000 - up.