Muhammad Ali 1976 Fight Worn Gloves From Ken Norton III Bout

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Muhammad Ali 1976 Fight Worn Gloves From Ken Norton III Bout On September 28, 1976 World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali defended his title against an old foe, tough Ken Norton, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Ali and Norton had fought twice previously, with each man winning once. In their first meeting in 1973 Ali not only lost to Norton in a significant upset, he also had his jaw broken in the process. In the second meeting, later that year, Ali avenged the loss in a very close fight. After Ali regained the title from George Foreman in 1974, he proceeded to eliminate challenger after challenger until by 1976 there was only one man still looming large on the stage he had not defended the title against, Ken Norton. The fight was close throughout. Norton, the stronger of the two men pressured Ali continuously and when the close decision was awarded to Ali, many observers thought Norton had been robbed. This great fight, perhaps fittingly, was the last heavyweight championship fought at Yankee Stadium. Presented here are the actual fight worn gloves used by Muhammad Ali in this third fight with Ken Norton. The gloves are red leather professional model gloves manufactured by Everlast and sporting the Everlast label on each wrist. The Everlast Model No. 21086 is still evident on each glove. Both gloves have remnants of the original laces and there is evidence of tape which was used to cover the laces. On the heel of each glove appears the signature, "Muhammad Ali," in black sharpie. Inside the left and right gloves is written in black the letters, KO8, which was Ali's prediction on the fight outcome. Inside both gloves is written, "Ali MA#1 Ali-Norton Yankee Stadium." There are also the initials of a commission official present inside each glove. The gloves show modest staining and wear with no rips or tears. The gloves were originally part of the collection of Ali assistant trainer and cornerman, Drew "Bundini" Brown. Brown kept these in a storage locker and after his death these gloves were sold at auction by the storage facility. The original tag from that sale in the late 1980's is still present (No. RK8871). These gloves will be sold to the winning bidder with an inventory from that sale which has the corresponding number from the tag and a photograph of Ali wearing the gloves in the fight. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports with additional LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad/PSA DNA and Mike Gutierrez/MGA.

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