This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
Muhammad Ali's "posse" in the 1960s and 1970s roughly equaled the population of Belgium. No one ever traveled from ring to ring with as many hangers-on as did "The Champ". He won the heavyweight crown in 1964 by making Sonny Liston quit on his stool, was stripped of the crown for refusing induction into the military. He retook the crown from George Foreman in the epic "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974 only to lose it to Leon Spinks, and then won it for a record third time in a 1978 re-match. Although controversies swirled around him, Ali coveted the kudos of his supporters and entourage and he returned the favor by handing out eye-catching rings such this size 16-3/4 bauble with an approx. 1/2K diamond atop a ruby stone. On the left border of the face are three 10-point diamond stones flanked by the engraving "M. Ali, World Champ, Three Times" in gold lettering. The left shank has an engraved boxing glove with Ali's victims in the 3 title fights inside, Ali's name on top and "64-74-78" beneath. On the right shank are Ali's name, a glove and a leaf engraving. The ring is in near mint condition.