The name Muhammad Ali can still generate a lot of money.
The heavyweight championship belt he won by knocking out George Foreman in the famous “Rumble in Jungle” match in 1974 has been sold at auction for a reported $6.18 million.
The boxing treasure was purchased by Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts.
Irsay tweeted after the fact: “Muhammad Ali’s championship belt from ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974 when he used his rope and beat George Foreman – just more [to] @IrsayCollection. Proud to be a manager! “
SERIOUSLY —- Muhammad Ali’s
championship belt from 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ when he used his rope and beat George Foreman — just added @IrsayCollection Just in time for the August 2 show at Chicago’s Navy Pier (and September 9 at Indy). Proud to be a manager! pic.twitter.com/REJOGV1Cwq– Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 24, 2022
Ali, 32 when he faced the then undefeated Foreman, was the underdog when they stepped into the ring in Kinshasa, then Zaire (now The Congo).
However, Ali used his historic “string pull” tactic, knocking down the muscular Foreman and stopping him for eight rounds to regain the heavyweight title that had been stripped from him when he was defeated. refused to join the United States Armed Forces in 1967.
It is arguably the Hall of Famer’s greatest triumph.
