LOT #82198 |
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1974 Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" On-Site Poster. ...
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Sold on May 17, 2025 for:
$7,625.00
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Description
1974 Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman "Rumble in the Jungle" On-Site Poster. Boxing and government propaganda mix in a relic that ranks as a top Heavyweight contender for rarity and desirability. Presented is one of the very few on-site posters for the fight known to history as "The Rumble in the Jungle," a massive (48x72") and enormously important relic that once implored the citizenry on the streets of Kinshasa to support the President of Zaire. The design features portraits of the two Heavyweight legends and that of Mobutu Sese Seko, leader of the former Belgian colony. This imperial history accounts for the French text which rather self-servingly announces [translated]: "Zaire 74, Ali and Foreman trust Mobuto. So do like them, and have confidence in Mobuto." Surely both boxers would today disavow any support, as Mobuto's authoritarian regime was one riddled with corruption, plunging his troubled nation even deeper into poverty as his own wealth swelled into the billions.A trip of green tape just to the left of Ali's head reads "30 Octobre 1974," an alteration made necessary after Foreman was injured in training, requiring a postponement. Of the few on-site posters from this most famous bout of the post-war era that have survived to present day, almost all exhibit considerable condition problems resulting from the African conditions, the delicate nature of the piece, and the decades that have passed since issuance. This is unquestionably the finest we've ever encountered, and almost assuredly the finest in the hobby, bar none. Stunningly, only minor wear to the borders must be mentioned in terms of condition concerns, and, of course, original storage folds which have been greatly minimized by a professional linen backing.
One of the greatest David and Goliath stories in the full history of human athletic endeavor, the Rumble in the Jungle will forever stand as the greatest moment in the career of a man commonly labeled America's greatest sports icon. As a memento of that stunning reclamation of the Heavyweight belt that had been unjustly stripped from Ali, this poster truly has it all--relevance, rarity and World Championship aesthetic appeal.
Auction Info
2025 May 16 - 18 Spring Sports Catalog Auction #50077 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2025
16th-18th
Friday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 15
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 464
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
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