This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
Most of us will never win a coveted championship boxing belt, but we can own one. These salesman samples of actual belts represent the power and the glory of being a champ, and having the haberdashery to prove it. Boxing belts have gotten gaudier and glitzier through the years and magnificent is the only word for this fire-engine-red International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt, which measures 40" in circumference and is surfaced with enough gold trimmings to satisfy Liz Taylor. In the center is a 9" x 10" gold-laden IBF crest dotted by glimmering red and white stones. There are three intersecting globes, two of which are blue, white and gold and bear the words "World Champion" and "International Boxing Federation," and a third one that is red and has gold letters spelling "IBF" on top and the name of IBF president Robert W. Lee on the bottom. Atop the crest is a movable gold eagle and near the bottom are two gold boxing gloves. Flanking the crest on either side are 4" gold-bordered circular mirrors with smaller eagles on the top, and on the left end of the belt is a 3 ½" x 5" gold plate with a smaller version of the three-globe design between two fighters. The word "Official" is on top and Lee's name is on the bottom. The belt, which is thickly cushioned on the back and closes with Velcro strips, is in near mint condition. The other belt is the 1992 Olympic boxing belt. While less gaudy, the 44" belt is
quite impressive, with a silver engraving of an ancient athlete raising the torch in a circular area at the center and a gold crown above it. Six gold chains and a red, white and blue ribbon link two outer gold plates reading "1992 Olympic Gold Medalist" and "Oscar De La Hoya," who took home the gold medal. These are set against the black leather of the belt, which has a gold buckle on the left end and is smoothly padded in the back.