This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/5/2020
Still rebuilding a winning record after his first professional loss to Joe Frazier, Ali faced Norton on March 31, 1973, at the Sports Arena, San Diego, California. The fight was aired live on free TV in the United States via ABC. The fight against Norton started a years-long rivalry. Ali was outmaneuvered by Norton's unorthodox fighting style, which involved jabbing from below and crossing his hands for defence. As the final bell rang, Norton won on a split decision, igniting a controversy in the boxing world. Soon after the fight, Ali was treated in hospital for a broken jaw, an injury sustained in the first round of the fight
Attending the fight was physical Dr. Jack Useem. A huge fan of the sport, Dr. Useen worked the corner of several championship fights. As a San Diego resident, it was only natural that this pugilistic doctor volunteered. After the fight, both the Champion, Ken Norton, and the Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali, gave the doctor their gloves.
Weighing 8 ounces, written reports noted that the fighters requested 10 ounces gloves. These gloves weigh 8 ounces, (stamped inside and weighed by MEARS).
Both sets of gloves are Cleto Reyes Seyer professional model gloves. Period images from the fight document the fact that both fighters wore Seyer gloves during both of the 1973 fights in San Diego. After painstaking research, we are confident there gloves were NOT worn in the ring during the fight. We base this on the position of the manufactures label in conjunction with the seams that runs along the side of the glove. Either the Norton gloves or the Ali gloves fully match from any of the fight photos. What we are confident is that these gloves were given to Dr. Useem by both fighters. Most likely, these were the training gloves used sparring leading up to the bout.
Dr. Jack Useem gifted the gloves directly to our consignor. LOA MEARS.