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Cassius Clay 1960 Olympics Signed Ticket Display

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Vintage Sports Memorabilia Start Price:NA Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
Cassius Clay 1960 Olympics Signed Ticket Display

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Auction Date:2019 Feb 21 @ 20:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:One Beacon St., 15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Scarce ticket for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy for September 7th, 8.5 x 3.5, with a vintage blue ballpoint signature, "Auguri, Cassius Clay, USA, Box." Also signed by three other Olympic athletes. Matted with a photo of Ali competing at the Games to an overall size of 11.75 x 16.5. In fine condition. At the age of 18, Cassius Clay won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome with an impressive unanimous victory over veteran Polish fighter Zbigniew ‘Ziggy’ Pietrzykowski.

Holding an amateur record of 100-5, with six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships and successive National Amateur Athletic Union and Golden Gloves titles, Clay entered the 1960 Olympic Summer Games as one of America's most vaunted amateur fighters. Declared by Sports Illustrated as the USA’s best hope for a medal in boxing, Clay arrived in Rome as an ebullient 18-year-old from Louisville eager to impress, his cordial and outgoing manner earning him the nickname 'the mayor of the Olympic Village.' This popularity carried over into the competition, with crowds cheering the young boxer as he danced and throttled his way past experienced boxers from Belgium, Russia, and Australia, culminating in a meet-up with Zbigniew ‘Ziggy’ Pietrzykowski in the gold medal match. Clay got off to a slow start, seemingly confused by his opponent's southpaw style, but found his form and momentum in the final rounds to secure a convincing victory. According to British journalist John Cottrell: 'This sharper, better co-ordinated Clay stormed back with a torrent of combination punching which left Pietrzykowski dazed. He no longer relied too much on his left jab, but made equal use of his right to penetrate the southpaw’s guard. Ripping into the stamina-lacking Pole, he drew blood and came preciously close to scoring a knockout. At the final bell, Pietrzykowski was slumped helplessly against the ropes. There was no doubting the verdict. All the judges made Clay the points winner.'

This vintage signature on the ticket to his Gold Medal match is an extremely rare combination, a highly desirable item of arguably "The Greatest" and most recognizable athlete of all time.