Signatures

These five legendary African-American boxers held the world heavyweight championship title between them for much of the 1950s through most of the 1970s. Signed glossy heavy stock 7" X 5" card, n.p., n.y. Fine. Bearing a printed caption "Where Boxing Legends Live Forever" at top, circular logo of the Boxing Hall of Fame at left and "Canastota, New York" at bottom, the blank central portion bears the signatures of Spinks, Norton, Frazier and Patterson in thick black marker and that of Ali in black fineline. All are large and bold, while Ali's is of course small and somewhat tremulous. Almost certainly signed while together at a Boxing Hall of Fame annual induction, and research may show in which years these five pugilists were all present. Leon Spinks is the only non-Hall of Famer among them, but perhaps he attended his brother Michael Spinks' 1994 induction -- which may make this the year in which this quintet was signed. A provocative assemblage, in any case.