Ali vs. Bugner Ticket

These pictures of tickets for the 1975 Ali vs. Bugner title fight in Kuala Lumpur were sent to me by Chris who is a reader of this blog.

Chris is considering selling one of these tickets and if you're interested, you can contact him by emailing mac-d@hotmail.co.uk

Famous fights

This is my original copy of boxing newspaper Famous Fights: Past and Present. The paper ran from 1901 to 1904 and is eagerly sought by collectors and historians alike.

On the front cover of this copy is a fight between Frank Slavin and Jem Smith. Although the condition of this copy isn't perfect, it is complete. like much of my collection, I am unsure of its value so would be interested in any comments you might have about this.

Programme - Randolph Turpin v Walter Cartier (March 1953)

I've had this programme for promoter Jack Solomons' middle weight contest for a few years and hadn't paid it much attention until recently. In fact, I had not even noticed the signatures on the inside cover of the programme.

Having studied these, I can make out the autograph of Randolph's brother - Dick Turpin, as well as the writer Peter Wilson. There are three other signatures here that I can only partially read (I think one of them may be Jack Solomons) - If you recognize any of these please leave me a comment using the link below.

In the headline fight, Walter Cartier was disqualified in the second round for holding - you can read a full review of the bout here.

Click on either of the images to view full size.

Ex Butcher Frazier Chops Down Clay Legend

This copy of the Evening Herald from March 9 1971 reports the "Battle of the Century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.


Was Ali-Frazier I the best action fight of all time? I would have to say no but for sheer anticipation, drama and excitement, this fight was the whole package. You had movie star Burt Lancaster as a commentator and Frank Sinatra as a photographer. Each boxer would receive $2.5 million for their nights work. That was an unheard sum of money for one fight in 1971. 

The Bare Knuckle Breed

This is my 1952 first edition of semi fictional boxing book "The Bare Knuckle Breed", which is based on true stories but spiced up by author Louis Golding.


The book itself is in reasonably good condition, however it is missing it's dust jacket which is a real shame.

I have seen this book (including dust jacket) on sales for as much as £35 on specialist book sites.

Framed Frazier Ali "superfight" poster

I picked up this framed poster from the Frazier vs Ali "superfight" of Jan 28 1974 at a collectors fair in London, and paid what seems like the bargain price of £30.

I'd be really interested to hear if any boxing enthusiasts know the current value of this piece, so if you've seen one for sale please leave me a comment and let me know.

Ricky "Hit Man" mask

This signed Ricky Hatton mask is one of the quirkier pieces in my collection of boxing memorabilia and is a souvenir from his fight with Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao on 2 May 2009.

I picked this up at a boxing dinner at the Marriott  Hotel in Bristol where Ricky gave a hilarious, if slightly colourful, after dinner speech.  

Life and times of the Tipton Slasher

Sorting through my book collection today, I stumbled across this biography of bare knuckle fighter William Perry AKA The Tipton Slasher.

Born in 1820, Perry was a two time English Heavyweight Champion (1850 and 1856) and was finally beaten by Tom Sayers in the round ten of a bout that took place on June 16 1857.

The Tipton Slasher died in 1880 and was buried in St Johns Churchyard, Dudley. A statue of him stands in the town of Tipton near the Fountain Inn which used to he his headquarters

A different book of boxing matches

This is one of the more unusual pieces in my collection of boxing memorabilia. This book of matches promoting Jack Dempsey's Broadway restaurant has been in my collection for around fifteen years.

I am especially pleased with their condition as they have been well looked after and not a single match has been struck