"The Fight of the Century" was the promotional nickname given to the first boxing match between champion Joe Frazier (26-0 23 KOs) and challenger Muhammad Ali (31-0 25 KOs) held on March 8 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It marked the first time in history that two undefeated boxers squared off for the heavyweight championship. Not since Louis-Schmeling at the height of the Great Depression was there a fight with this much anticipation. In the end Smokin' Joe outlasted Ali in the 15th round by unanimous decision handing the Greatest of All Time his most difficult defeat. Presented here are the Everlast gloves believed to have been worn in training by Ali leading up to that epic battle.

Ali's boxing ban for refusing to join the Army was lifted in August of 1970 and he promptly got back in the ring and won two fights to earn his title shot against Frazier. After beating Jerry Quarry in Atlanta on Oct. 26 1970 he earned a tough 15-round TKO win over Argentinian Oscar Bonavena at Madison Square Garden on December 7th. The burgundy tone size and design of these offered training gloves are almost identical to the actual pair Ali used in the "Fight of the Century" four months later at the same venue. (We should know since that famous pair first hit the auction block in the Angelo Dundee Estate Collection in SCP's 2012 Fall Auction.)

Stamped on the underside of the fingers on each glove is "2108 MSG" in white (more legible on the right glove) just one digit short from the "21086 MSG" coding on Ali's actual championship fight gloves from the famous Frazier I bout. Both gloves have been incredibly well-preserved with essentially no stitching loss on any of the light tan trim and only minor discoloration and scuffing on the leather exterior. The large "EVERLAST" logos over the wrists show little fading bolder on the right glove. Even the laces are still intact. The consignor's included letter of provenance provides a detailed background on the procurement of these special gloves.

"This is to testify that in 1984 I was offered these very Everlast Boxing gloves as a gift from the grandson of a former Madison Square Garden employee named Daniel Flanick. My company had performed beyond expectations on a significant project that Daniel managed as we were the subcontractor. He knew I was a huge boxing fan and gave the gloves to me to show his appreciation. He explained that his grandfather worked at Madison Square Garden in the late 1960’s and early 70’s and had given him these gloves as a gift during the training of the famous Muhammad Ali fight versus Joe Frazier at MSG on March 8 1971 – aka “The Fight of the Century”. He presented them to me as Ali’s training worn gloves and research indicates they are almost an identical match to the gloves Ali wore in the fight. I have kept the gloves in my possession ever since."