DALLAS (AP) — Muhammad Ali’s championship belt from his
1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight title fight was sold
at auction on Sunday for $6.18 million.

The winner of the competition for the belt was Indianapolis
Colts owner Jim Irsay, according to Heritage Auctions in Dallas.

In a tweet Sunday, Irsay confirmed he acquired the belt for his
collection of rock music, American history and pop culture
memorabilia that is currently touring the country.

The belt will be displayed on Aug. 2 at Chicago’s Navy Pier and
on Sept. 9 in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.

Referee Zack Clayton, right, steps in after challenger
Muhammad Ali, second from right, knocked down
defending heavyweight champion George Foreman,
bottom, in the eighth round of their championship
bout on Oct. 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire. (AP Photo/File)

TIM MAGUIRE

Comedian & film maker Mel Brooks is 96 today.
(born Melvin Kaminsky in New York City)

SANDY KOZEL

2014

James (Jay) Douglas Muir Leno is 72 today.

On February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay shocked the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny
Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout. The dreaded Liston,
who had twice demolished former champ Floyd Patterson in one
round, was an 8-to-1 favorite. However, Clay predicted victory,
boasting that he would “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and
knock out Liston in the eighth round.

Muhammad Ali
(born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.)
(January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016)

Muhammad Ali (right) wins his third heavyweight crown by defeating Leon Spinks.

On September 15, 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks
at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time in his career, the first
fighter ever to do so. Following his victory, Ali retired from boxing,
only to make a brief comeback two years later. Ali, who once
claimed he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” left the s
port permanently in 1981.