It was comeback for the ages: at the age of 38 the great Muhammad Ali was attempting to become the only 4-time Heavyweight Champion in boxing history. His opponent was Larry Holmes, Ali’s one-time sparring partner. What should have been a made-for-Hollywood fight turned into wistful event for all those involved.

      Months prior to the fight, Ali began displaying the first signs of undiagnosed Parkinson’s Disease. The Holmes-Ali Championship title fight was scheduled for October, 2, 1980 in Las Vegas, but the Nevada Athletic Commission ordered that Ali submit to a comprehensive physical. Ali got a clean bill of health from the Mayo Clinic and the fight was on. Larry Holmes for his part did not want to fight Ali. It was clear to him that his old friend had nothing left. Yet a huge purse was at stake and the sports world clamored for one more memorable Ali fight.

      As October 2nd loomed, Ali took a thyroid medication to lose weight. This left the former champ in a weakened state as fight neared. Ali entered the ring accompanied by Nevada Athletic Commission inspector Peter Houk as a thunderous crowd chanted “Ali! Ali! Ali!”. The night had all the makings for a great story, but from the moment the bell rang, it was a slaughter. Holmes easily dominated the aged and weakened Ali. One sportswriter who covered the fight called it “the worst sports event I ever had to cover”. Ali withstood a severe beating from Holmes who easily won every round. Actor Sylvester Stalone, who was ringside that night, said the fight was “like watching an autopsy on a man who's still alive“.

      That Ali was able to withstand such a beating was a testament to his great fortitude and mental stamina. As he had done his whole life, when faced with overwhelming odds, he refused to submit. Finally, at the end of the 10th round, Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee mercifully threw in the towel. It was the only fight Ali lost that did not come down to a judge’s decision. In the post-fight interview with Howard Cosell, Larry Holmes was visibly shaken at what had transpired in the ring. With tears welling up in his eyes, Holmes looked into the cameras and said “I really respect Ali a whole lot. I fought one of the baddest heavyweights in the world today, and you cannot take credit from him”.

      In the aftermath of the fight, Peter Houk, the man who walked Ali in and out of the ring that night, was handed Ali’s gloves. The two red Everlast gloves have been in the Houk family since. Now, Houk’s son, Peter Houk, Jr., has consigned them to Goldin Auctions.

      The 8 ounce red Everlast gloves are each marked “21086” on the palms. Parts of the original white laces remain on each glove and you can see the remains of the original white tape on the top of the left glove’s Everlast label. The outer palm side of the left glove has “Oct 2, 1980 Las Vegas, Nev.” in ink. In the same place on the right glove “Oct. 2, 1981 (error) Muhammad Ali Las Vegas, Nev.” is inscribed. The inside of each has the handwritten markings “ALI OK” with a circled number “1” along with other notes made by Ali’s trainers and the Nevada Athletic Commission inspectors. The circled number “1” indicates that these were the gloves worn in the actual fight by Ali and not a backup or practice set.

      The gloves were tested for size for Ali’s hand and the result was favorable. The pair show good use with surface scuffs and stains visible on the red leather. These gloves are a poignant vestige of Ali’s very last title fight. These Ali-worn gloves come with a letter of authenticity from Peter Houk, Jr attesting to the glove’s provenance and JO Sports.

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