1975 Muhammad Ali Worn Muslim Prayer Cap Presented before "A Thrilla in Manila"--Photo Matched!...

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1975 Muhammad Ali Worn Muslim Prayer Cap Presented before "A Thrilla in Manila"--Photo Matched!

UPDATE: This lot includes an LOA from Resolution Photomatching.

While this auction is bursting with highly significant artifacts from Muhammad Ali's dominance within the professional prize ring, this extraordinary relic is the sale's most evocative piece regarding the three-time Heavyweight Champion's equally important and compelling role as a global cultural icon and champion of civil rights. Even the most casual fan is aware that the transformation from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali split the United States, and much of the world, into opposing camps who either admired Ali's principled stand against the Vietnam draft or who considered his unwillingness to discard the anti-warfare tenets of his faith as a slap to the face of American patriotism.

That religious conversion in 1964 instantly established Ali as the most famous Muslim on the planet, rocketing him past even those giants of history like Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X who shepherded him into the flock. It also, of course, would set into motion the events that would strip Ali of his Heavyweight title and claim three years of the master's prime. From a purely sociological standpoint, this may be the most significant article that the Sports Collectibles department of Heritage Auctions has ever presented to the public.

It's a gorgeous crown for a king, crafted from supple black velvet with golden embroidery and pink beading. The Muslim star and crescent adorns the front and the name "Muhammad Ali" is boldly applied to each side, with every design detail a perfect match to Getty Image #517403674, dated September 25, 1975. Six days later he and Joe Frazier would cheat death in "A Thrilla in Manila," one of the most historic sporting events of the twentieth century. Our online listing provides a link to a YouTube video entitled "Muhammad Ali visits mosque in Manila" which confirms the dating of the Getty Image. At second forty-one of the the fifty-three second video, a man wearing a cap with the same gold and pink design features can be seen in the congregation, and ten seconds later we find Ali walking outside the mosque, bare-headed but wearing the same shirt he is wearing in the Getty photograph.

The cap survives in spectacular condition, without a single missing bead or any other sign of mistreatment. Interior headband is bright red leather. The text "No. 11" appears at interior crown, though the significance of that text has been lost to history. The cap derives from the personal collection of assistant equipment manager Wali Muhammad, whose own Muslim faith must have compelled him to take extra-special care of this remarkable rarity. Letter of provenance from Troy Kinunen. Letter of provenance from the daughter of Wali Muhammad. LOA from Craig Hamilton. LOA from Resolution Photomatching. LOA from Heritage Auctions.