Lot 188. Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney Signed Photo of Their 1927 “Long Count” Fight. In Philadelphia on Sept. 23, 1926, Dempsey lost a 10-round decision and the heavyweight title to Tunney. In their rematch in Chicago 364 days later, Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round. The start of the count was delayed, however, because Dempsey was slow to go to a neutral corner. Tunney rose on the count of nine and went on to win a decision. The nine count came 13-14 seconds after Dempsey had floored him. Later, Tunney said he could have arisen by nine if the count had started earlier. Dempsey said he had no reason not to believe Tunney. Eventually, they became good friends. Their autographs are nm-m 8 (Dempsey) and nm 7 to nm-m 8 (Tunney) on a 4 ¾” x 7 1/8” magazine photo. Dempsey died in 1983, and Tunney, in 1978. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $198.
Lot 189. Rocky Marciano Autographed March 1955 “Sport” Magazine Cover. Ex-m 6 signature on his image. The cover (only) is double-matted to 12” x 14 3/8”. Marciano fought professionally 49 times without a loss. He is the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated. He died in a plane crash in 1969. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $291.
Lot 247. Original “Ring” 75th Anniversary Painting with Ali and Sugar Distinctive Caricatures. From Sugar’s collection, this colorful 18” x 24.25” gouache original represents a scene from “Ring” magazine’s 75th anniversary celebration in Atlantic City. Sugar edited the periodical from 1979-83. Prominently featured in the painting, a magazine “cover” refers to the Spinks-Cooney fight in 1987 and to Ali’s Hall of Fame induction in 1990. Ali is on the cover, and in the crowd at what apparently is a reception. Sugar is depicted with his omnipresent hat and cigar. Don King is among the figures captured by artist Borie Dornl. This one-of-a-kind artwork is rolled, ex-m and a serious attention-grabber!
Winning Bid $134.
Lot 256. 1938 Joe Louis “World Champion” Figural Electric Clock. In Chicago on June 22, 1937, Louis knocked out James J. Braddock in the eighth round to claim the world heavyweight boxing championship. He retained the title longer than any other heavyweight. In 71 fights, he lost only three times, to former champion Max Schmeling in 1936 and then to Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano more than 14 years later at the end of his career. These bronze clocks, about 12.25” tall and 9” across, are historically interesting. Produced in a period still dominated by caricatures of black individuals, they likely were among the first realistic images of a black figure to find their way into black and white homes alike. A handsome image of Louis rises above the United “Self Starting” clock, which is not working. Showing some rubs, the clock displays very nicely and with character consistent with Louis himself. Ex-m.
Winning Bid $218.
Lot 257. Rare 19th Century Original Boxing Book – “Art of Boxing” by William Edwards. The full title of Edwards’ 1883 book from Excelsior Publishing is “Art of Boxing and Science of Self-Defense, Together with a Manual of Training.” Topics of Edwards’ book of more than 100 pages range from breakfast diet and smoking to “in-fighting” and the Marquis of Queensberry Rules. Active as a boxer in the 1860s and 1870s, Edwards won the U.S. lightweight championship in 1868. He trained John L. Sullivan. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. Edwards’ book, apparently published without a dust jacket, has his image on the cover. The book is vg.
Winning Bid $102.
Lot 258. 4 Nat Fleischer Boxing Books – 3 Autographed – from Bert Sugar’s Collection. Fleischer’s career and Sugar’s had some significant similarities. In 1922, Fleischer created “Ring” magazine and served as its editor until 1972. Sugar edited the boxing periodical from 1979-83. Both were superb, prolific boxing writers. Fleischer twice received the James J. Walker Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America. The International Veterans Boxing Association named Sugar the “Greatest Boxing Writer of the 20th Century.” And both are in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Fleischer inducted in 1990, and Sugar, in 2005. The three books signed by Fleischer are inscribed, although not to Sugar. All four books are hardcovers. Fleischer’s full signature is on the flyleaf of the 1936 edition of “Jack Dempsey: The Idol of Fistiana.” In the steel-tipped pen inscription, he mentions the addition of chapters to the book, which first appeared in 1929. The book is vg-ex and is without a dust jacket. Fleischer’s autograph is nm-m 8 to mint 9. Two other books are signed “Nat” on the flyleaf at the close of personalized inscriptions: “Sockers in Sepia: A continuation of the drama of the Negro in pugilistic competition (Volume V of the Black Dynamite Boxing Series),” 1947, apparent first edition, vg-ex, and “The Heavyweight Championship,” 1949, vg-ex book, f+ dust jacket. Both autographs are nm-m 8 to mint 9. The “Sockers in Sepia” book is relatively scarce. It profiles 24 boxers, including Kid Chocolate, Harry Willis and John Henry Lewis. The fourth book is “Leonard the Magnificent,” a 1947 biography of Benny Leonard. An apparent first edition, the book is vg-ex and has no dust jacket. A note on the flyleaf, “Compliments of Nat Fleischer,” is not in the author’s hand. Unsigned copies of “Sockers in Sepia” typically are offered at more than our starting bid.
Winning Bid $83.
Lot 259. Robert Cenedella Limited Edition Boxing Lithograph – “Unpopular Decision.” Cenedella’s penchant for and mastery of fantasy and satire are evident in this detailed artwork from Bert Sugar’s collection. Signed in pencil by Cenedella, it is No. 54 from an edition of 300. The image is 23.25” x 25.75” on 25.5” x 28.75” paper matted and framed to 31.75” x 34”. The matt shows foxing especially at the top, and a couple of tiny spots are in the border of the print. We see no evidence of foxing in the lithograph itself. Nm-m.
Minimum Bid $100.
Lot 264. Burris Jenkins Original, Large 1941 Cartoon with Sam Snead, Max Baer – and Whirlaway! Recognized for his sports and editorial cartoons, Jenkins was one of the nation’s top cartoonists during his long career with the New York “Journal-American,” which began in the 1930s. Calling this work of art a “cartoon,” however, seems to do it a disservice; “illustration” seems more appropriate. Titled “Move Over Boys,” the 16.25” x 19.25” pencil drawing depicts Whirlaway, the 1941 Triple Crown winner, about to join five human athletes in a bed. The five are Sam Snead, Max Baer, Bobo Newsome, a representative of the Columbia University rowing team and 1941 U.S. Open tennis winner Frank Kovacs. In the background are Bill Corum, widely recognized sports broadcaster and columnist, and Eddie Arcaro, who rode Whirlaway to victory in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont. Burris signed the illustration, which is matted and framed to 21.5” x 24”. Ex-m.
Winning Bid $198.
