JEWELLERY, DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS AUCTION Tuesday, 5 December 2023 / 10:00 am start

A signed Muhammad Ali 1979 Invitation from his 'Down Under' tour to New Zealand,

Lot Details

the invitation to the Auckland celebrity gala dinner held at Trillo's Downtown, Auckland. Also signed by Ali's then wife, Veronica Porche Ali, Joe Bugner (boxer) and others. Together with the 'Down Under' programme signed by Harold Smith the chairman of the Muhammad Ali Amateur Sports Club and the man responsible for bringing Ali to New Zealand. Note: When ailing boxing great Muhammad Ali made a flying visit to New Zealand, he caused a sensation. Ali was 37 and still world heavyweight champion when he visited Upper Hutt in February 1979. His trip was organised by the late Heretaunga boxing coach Alan Scaife who had earlier taken a team of Kiwi kids to Pennsylvania to fight a Muhammad Ali amateur boxing team. Scaife suggested the American team return the trip to New Zealand and bring Ali. The champion duly obliged and was mobbed by fans who gathered to meet him at Wellington Airport. He then turned on his famous charm for the enthralled Kiwi supporters. Ali spent that night attending a charity fundraising dinner in Trentham and golfed the next day. He then flew to Auckland, where he staged an exhibition night with fellow boxers Jimmy Ellis and Joe Bugner. This signed invitation is to that exhibition night.