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Joe Louis Fight Worn Bronzed Glove Marciano Bout Joe Louis Fight Worn Bronzed Glove Attributed to Ro

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Joe Louis Fight Worn Bronzed Glove Marciano Bout Joe Louis Fight Worn Bronzed Glove Attributed to Ro
<B>Joe Louis Fight Worn Bronzed Glove Attributed to Rocky Marciano Bout.</B></I> When Joe Louis, considered by most fight experts to be one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time, passed away at age sixty-six in 1981, it was his longtime friend Reverend Gene Ewing who delivered the Brown Bomber's eulogy. The exceptionally close relationship between the boxer and this clergy member is illustrated not only by the fact that "The Reverend Gene Ewing" appears on the cover of the included internment services program for Louis' Arlington Cemetery burial, but also in that he was made the beneficiary of an incredible gift from the widow Louis. The gift in question is a bronzed glove that has been fashioned into a trophy, presented to Louis by the boxing press that followed his historic career. A brass plate affixed to the wooden base is engraved with the words, "Presented to Joe Louis, Man of the Half Century in Boxing by the Boxing Writers Association, May 11, 1975." What the plaque fails to mention is the most noteworthy fact of them all--this glove was once worn by Louis in the ring, purportedly in his last professional bout as he was knocked out by the great Rocky Marciano in the eighth round of a Madison Square Garden bout in 1951.<BR><BR> The provenance is compelling. First, we offer a photo of Louis inscribed by his widow to Reverend Ewing. It reads, in full, "Given our choice of presidents, kings, queens, sports figures and movie stars to whom we could have given Joe's glove, we chose to present it to you, Dr. Ewing, as a way of saying thank you for the kindness and friendship you have shown over the years to the Joe Louis family. Martha Louis." While this makes no mention of the glove's history, a small brass and lucite plaque from the Reverend Wayne Delatte does. It reads, "Glove from Joe Louis' Last Fight To Reverend Wayne Delatte From Reverend Gene Ewing, 12-25-93." A letter from Reverend Delatte's wife attests to the gift of the glove that Christmas.<BR><BR> When considering the tone of the inscription to Reverend Ewing from Louis' widow, who clearly considered the gift to be of tremendous importance, and the fact that the direct claim of the glove's history comes from both the pastor that delivered Louis' eulogy, and from a second Reverend as well, it would take quite a cynic to dismiss the story as mere hearsay. We present the story as it stands, and allow the bidder to make his own conclusions. Are these men of god merely telling tales, or is this the glove that was strapped to the right hand of the great Joe Louis when his brilliant fight career was ended for good by Rocky Marciano on October 26, 1951?