This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 6/6/2013.
WBC Heavyweight World Championship Belt dating to 1982 when Holmes received this upgraded belt after successfully defeating Gerry Cooney a month earlier at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Holmes held the WBC title from June of 1978 until December of 1988 when he relinquished the title to accept the International Boxing Federation’s Heavyweight title. Holmes successfully defended his WBC title in 17 fights over the course of five years to remain the champ. This belt was presented to Holmes on July 20, 1982 in the Hall of Fame Room at Madison Square Garden by WBC President Jose Sulaiman. The green leather belt measures approximately 45” and weighs 3.5 lbs. The belt sports a brass center plate that reads “WORLD CHAMPION W.B.C.” surrounding the W.B.C. logo in relief. The perimeter of the center plate is adorned with the multi-colored flags of 79 different countries, each of which is enameled. The letters in “WORLD CHAMPION” have been emblazoned with approximately 300 small round-cut diamonds. “W.B.C.” is adorned with 43 diamonds and 22 rubies, the crown below is made up of 11 rubies and 30 diamonds. The belt has an approximate total gem weight of three carats. Adjacent to the left and right of the center plate are two brass 1-3/4” medallions, enameled in black with a chain connecting them to the center. The left one features the image of Joe Louis in relief and reads “WORLD BOXING COUNCIL - LOUIS”. The right one features the image of Muhammad Ali in relief and reads “WORLD BOXING COUNCIL - ALI”. Both medallions have been re-secured to the belt. Holmes has signed the belt to the left of the Louis medallion, the signature is in black marker and rates an 8 overall. The verso of the belt has been signed by WBC President Jose Sulaiman. Embossed in the leather appears above and below Sulaiman’s signature is, “CERTIFIED WBC WORLD CHAMPION” and “JOSE SULAIMAN - PRESIDENT”. To the left additional text embossed in the leather lists the previous and current WBC Champions at the time, “SONNY LISTON 1962-1964, MUHAMMAD ALI 1964-1971, JOE FRAZIER 1971-1973, GEORGE FOREMAN 1973-1974, MUHAMMAD ALI 1974-1978, LEON SPINKS 1978-, KEN NORTON 1978-, LARRY HOLMES FROM 1978-”. This truly one-of-a-kind item comes from one of the greatest fighters in history, it is accompanied by a framed 16” x 20” color photo of Holmes holding this very belt in New York in 1988, a wire photo from the day he received it as well as a LOA from JSA.