This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/24/2014
ADDENDUM: Please note that each of these gloves has been autographed by Jack Dempsey. Each period signature appears on the interior wrist area in black ink. Jack Dempsey was a longtime friend to Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms and a frequent visitor to the HAF museum. He was a recipient of many Helms awards and was a member of the Helms Hall of Fame. An image of Dempsey (seated next to Paul Helms) at a Helms event, along with Dempsey's Helms HOF award certificate are shown here. These Dempsey fight worn gloves were donated to the HAF directly by Dempsey himself. On July 21, 1927, in a heavyweight elimination bout at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York, Jack Dempsey squared off against Jack Sharkey. The winner of the bout was to face reigning World Heavyweight Champions Gene Tunney for a shot at the title. For six rounds Sharkey out-boxed Dempsey, who probed low with his punches. In the seventh round Sharkey turned his head to complain to the referee about Dempsey’s low punches and Dempsey landed a classic left hook that knocked Sharkey out. As was reported by the Associated Press: "Sharkey took the count of ten after going down from a vicious right hand wallop to the jaw. The Boston sailor had claimed a foul blow to the mid-section just before the climax, but the referee, Jack O'Sullivan, refused to allow it and counted him out.” These are the Everlast boxing gloves that Dempsey wore that night. The pair of ox blood leather gloves include white leather and oil cloth trim. The gloves also sport white cotton lining with white cotton laces. An incredible feature of these historic gloves is that each has been autographed by Jack Dempsey. Both period signatures appear on the interior wrist area in black ink. Additionally, Dempsey’s name is printed in blue ink inside the wrist area of both gloves.
Includes a Letter of Provenance from the Helms Athletic Foundation/LA84 Collection.
LOA from PSA/DNA (autos.)