This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
There were two boxing champs named Davey Moore, both of whom met tragic ends. The first died two days after a 1963 fight in which he was severely bloodied by Sugar Ramos. Several people believe that the fight should have been stopped sooner, and subsequently Bob Dylan wrote a song entitled "Killed Davey Moore?" The second Davey Moore (1962-1988), to whom this belt belonged, was born in New York around the time that the first Davey Moore was champion. After winning eight professional fights, the WBA named Moore their number one challenger. In February of 1982 Moore traveled to Japan, where he knocked out defending champion Tadashi Mihara in six rounds to win the WBA World Junior Middleweight title. In June of 1988 while leaving his home, Moore was crushed to death by his own car, which he either forgot to turn off or neglected to put in park. This is the WBA Championship belt awarded to Moore for his 1982 victory in Japan over Mihara. This black leather belt measures approximately 41" in circumference and 10 1/2" tall at its highest. In the center is a 7" gold globe with two embossed boxers on either side and two gold boxing gloves attached. On the top of this globe is attached a gold crown with red velvet and red stone accents, with four gold boxing gloves; one of the two attaching screws is missing. In the center of the globe is a 3 1/2" enameled medallion that reads "World Boxing Association Champion, WBA, Boxing As An International Sport, Cooperation, Uniformity, Control." To the left of the globe is a 4" crowned gold medallion that is engraved with "presented to Davey Moore, World Junior Middleweight Champion." To the right of the globe is a 4" crowned gold medallion that is engraved with "On The Occasion Of His 6th Round Knock-Out Victory Over Tadashi Mihara, Tokyo, Japan, February 3, 1982." There is red velvet padding on the interior side of the belt and a bronze buckle that reads "Philip Valentinio Originals" with raised facsimile signature. In overall NRMT condition with some minor scratching on the globe and medallions.