Muhammad Ali wore the robe, which is made from white terry cloth and has the boxer’s name stitched in its back, before his eagerly anticipated 1965 rematch with Sonny Liston at the Central Maine Youth Centre in Lewiston, Maine. A year earlier, Ali had upset Liston in Miami as he took the world heavyweight title. The first fight had seen Liston forced to retire in the sixth round due to a shoulder injury. But, in the second fight, Ali knocked Liston out in the first round and the iconic picture of Ali standing over Liston was created.
“We cannot stress the historical significance of this robe, not just for its link to one of the greatest fights in boxing history, but also for the cultural impact Ali’s religious beliefs made when he donned this robe and told the world he was now Muhammad Ali,” Goldin writes in the robe’s official auction listing.
Those who are interested in the robe have until February 5 to make their bid. Bidding is currently up to $150,000 but is expected to rise to as much as $500,000, according to TMZ Sports.
