Trunks Muhammad Ali wore in final fight headline at Chiswick, Feb. 14

Muhammad Ali’s game-worn MacGregor boxing shorts from his final fight in 1981, estimated at £15,000-£20,000 (about $18,500-$24,700). Image courtesy of Chiswick Auctions

Muhammad Ali’s game-worn MacGregor boxing trunks from his final fight in 1981, estimated at £15,000-£20,000 (about $18,500-$24,700). Image courtesy of Chiswick Auctions

LONDON – A unique souvenir from Muhammad Ali’s final boxing match will be offered at the Autographs and Memorabilia sale hosted by Chiswick Auctions on Tuesday, February 14. The satin MacGregor boxing trunks were worn by Ali on December 11, 1981 during the Drama in Bahama bout held in Nassau that pitted him against Jamaican Trevor Berbick. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Berbick, who would later win a WBC heavyweight title, was a fit 27-year-old on the night of the Nassau matchup. In contrast, the American boxing legend he faced was 39 years old, overweight at 236 lbs, and already suffering brain damage from having absorbed too many blows in earlier bouts.

Despite concerns about Ali’s fitness prior to the fight, he managed to put together some combinations in the early rounds and even landed a few solid jabs, but by the sixth round, he had grown tired and started receiving blows. The 10-round contest – which failed to sell out – went the distance, with Berbick winning by a unanimous points decision. After the fight, Ali retired, his illustrious career concluding with an overall record of 56-5.

The “Drama in Bahama” match was the only time Ali ever wore MacGregor trunks rather than examples made by Everlast. The MacGregors were presented by Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee to his close friend Hartmut Scherzer, a German sports reporter who visited the dressing room after the Nassau fight.

The trunks are white satin with black trim and have an elasticized waistband and a MacGregor manufacturer’s label on the front. They are expected to sell for £15,000-£20,000 (approximately US$18,510-$24,670).

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The current rate of exchange is £1 = $1.23.

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