1973 Muhammad Ali & Ken Norton Ring Used Worn Boxing Gloves Provenance + Mears

Description

1973 Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton Heavyweight Championship Ring Worn Sparring Gloves.
Ali faced Norton on March 31, 1973, at the Sports Arena, San Diego, California. The fight against Norton started a years-long rivalry. Ali was outmaneuvered by Norton's unorthodox fighting style, which involved jabbing from below and crossing his hands for defense. As the final bell rang, Norton won on a split decision, igniting a controversy in the boxing world.
Attending the fight was physical Dr. Jack Useem. A huge fan of the sport, Dr. Useen worked the corner of several championship fights. As a San Diego resident, it was only natural that this pugilistic doctor volunteered. After the fight, both the Champion, Ken Norton, and the Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali, gave the doctor their gloves.
Weighing 8 ounces, written reports noted that the fighters requested 10 ounces gloves. These gloves weigh 8 ounces, (stamped inside and weighed by MEARS).
Both sets of gloves are Cleto Reyes Seyer professional model gloves. Period images from the fight document the fact that both fighters wore Seyer gloves during both of the 1973 fights in San Diego. After Mears research, they determined these gloves were NOT worn in the ring during the fight. However they did verify that the gloves were given to Dr. Useem by both fighters and were the training gloves used for sparring leading up to the bout.
Dr. Jack Useem gifted the gloves directly to the consignor.