An American businessman bought Mohamed Ali's championship belt, acquired in 1974 against George Foreman during the legendary boxing match "Rumble in the Jungle" in Congo.
Cost of this little collector's gift: 6.18 million dollars.
Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team, announced the purchase at auction Sunday on Twitter.
The businessman said he was "proud to be the guardian" of the boxer's historic belt.
$6.18 million: Price paid tonight at @HeritageAuction for the belt Muhammad Ali won in “Rumble in the Jungle.”
It was last bought for $358,000 in 2016. pic.twitter.com/QJrzA1vVo5
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 24, 2022
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An avid collector
The belt's sale price, set this Sunday by Heritage Auctions, has been called one of the highest prices ever paid for a sports collectible.
Mohamed Ali won the belt after beating George Foreman (undefeated until then) by K.-O.
in the eighth round.
He retained the crown until losing to Leon Spinks in 1978.
The object could be presented at an exhibition of Jim Irsay's collection in August in Chicago, as well as in September in Indianapolis.
Jim Irsay is a regular at spectacular purchases: he owns guitars belonging to Elvis Presley, John Lennon or Prince, as well as the original manuscript of the Alcoholics Anonymous guidebook written by Bill Wilson in 1939.
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