The boxing "legend" Muhammad Ali, who left behind the phrase "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," has his shorts (trunks) worn during the "Fight of the Century" 49 years ago put up for auction, with the estimated winning bid expected to reach about 8 billion KRW.
On the 5th (local time), AFP reported that Muhammad Ali's shorts were listed at Sotheby's auction in New York, USA, and the auction will run until April 12. The shorts were worn by Ali during the third match against his rival Joe Frazier on October 1, 1975, in Manila, Philippines, competing for the world heavyweight champion title.
Previously, Ali experienced his first career defeat in the 1971 match against Joe Frazier. After a fierce battle lasting up to the 15th round, Ali lost to Frazier by decision. In the second match held in 1974, Ali won by decision. The final third match, known as the "Thrilla in Manila," attracted worldwide attention, and after a grueling 14-round fight, Ali emerged victorious. Ali described the match held under suffocating heat and humidity, saying, "I thought I was going to die. I went as close to death as I know."
The shorts are white with black stripes and remain in intact condition, bearing Ali's autograph. Sotheby's estimates that the shorts will fetch between 4 million and 6 million USD (approximately 5.4 billion to 8.1 billion KRW). The auction runs until April 12, and the highest bid so far is 3.8 million USD (about 5.1 billion KRW).
Ali turned professional after winning a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He became the first in the world to win the heavyweight world championship three consecutive times, leaving behind numerous legendary matches with a career record of 56 wins (37 KOs) and 5 losses. After retiring from the ring, he devoted himself to the Black civil rights movement, earning much praise. He battled Parkinson's disease for 32 years before passing away in 2016 at the age of 74.
Previously, Muhammad Ali's championship belt won against George Foreman in 1974 was auctioned for 6.18 million USD (about 8.1 billion KRW), and his boxing shoes were sold for 119,500 USD (about 135 million KRW).
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