In 1970, Muhammad Ali was in a position of flux in his professional career. He had not been able to fight since early 1967 as the Boxing Commission stripped him of his World Heavyweight title, and states were barred from issuing him any boxing license. While the courts were deciding his professional fate, Ali’s wife had given birth to twins and the family needed some peace and quiet. They moved into Ali’s parent’s home in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia, a wooded residential area. Ali and his family lived there until early 1973 when he sold the home to move across the river into New Jersey.

      Who would ever have known back in 1973 when Muhammad Ali and his wife Belinda sold their home in the wooded area of Philadelphia, the purchaser would be the eventual grandparents of future Hall of Fame basketball player Kobe Bryant?

      This amazing document, dated April 27, 1973, was between “Muhammad Ali and Belinda Ali” and John A. Cox, Jr. and Mildred Cox” and transferred ownership of 1835 72nd Street for the lofty sum of $67,000.00. John and Mildred are the parents of Pamela Cox Bryant, who is Kobe’s mother.

      The home was owned by Muhammad Ali’s parents, Cassius Marcellus and Odessa L Clay, who granted ownership to Muhammad and Belinda Ali on October 20, 1972. Ali obtained ownership of the home on that date from his parents, but lived in the home for a couple years prior as evidence by a copy of the January 1971 Ali article in EBONY magazine with multiple images of Ali and his family in and outside the home. This article came out two months before “The Fight of the Century” against Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Championship of the world.

      The 8.5 x 11 inch two-page document is boldly signed “Muhammad Ali” and “Belinda J. Ali” on the seller’s lines, with the vintage Ali signature rating a solid (“9/10”). The signature is crisp and clear, which an amazing fact since this date was less than a month from his first Ken Norton fight, which saw Norton break Ali’s jaw and hand The Champ his second professional boxing loss.

      The document is in excellent condition, with two folds, but no tears, rips or staining. Several county recording stamps are evident plus a witness signature. The contract has impeccable provenance, as it derived directly from Mildred Cox, original purchaser, who has had this signed document in her possession since that April day in 1973.

      This is a one of kind signed Muhammad Ali contract, created during an unsettled time in his professional life as he had just been beaten in the ring for the second time of his renewed career. The transfer of ownership is enhanced by the knowledge that Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, used to run around the property similar to how The Champ and his family did several decades earlier. This is one of the most intriguing and significant Muhammad Ali signed contracts and comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA (AA07002).

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