<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Boxing shorts worn by Muhammad Ali in his fight against Thrilla in Manila are set to sell for almost £5 million.
The pair, who remain flawless despite the grueling 14-round fight, are up for auction.
The Everlast silk shorts, pure white except for a black belt line and black stripes down each leg, are signed by Ali.
Sotheby’s in New York expects the item to sell for up to $6 million (£4.8 million).
The fight, which took place in the Philippines in 1975, was the third time the legendary boxer faced ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier.
Muhammad Ali’s shorts from his fight with Thrilla in Manila. Sotheby’s in New York expects the item to sell for up to $6 million (£4.8 million).
The Everlast silk shorts, pure white except for a black belt line and black racing stripes down each leg, are signed Ali.
Heavyweight boxers Muhammad Ali (white shorts) and Joe Frazier are seen during their championship fight in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975.
The couple had previously met at The Fight of the Century in New York in 1971 and again at Madison Square Garden in 1974.
It is believed that one billion people around the world tuned in to the Thrilla in Manila, still regarded as the biggest and most brutal boxing match of all time.
The pair battled for 42 minutes, despite temperatures reaching 49 °C (120 °F).
After his victory, Ali said of the fight: “It was like death.” The closest thing to dying that I know of.
“We went to Manila as champions, Joe and I, and we came back as old men.”
Frazier, then 31 years old, fought only two more times before retiring. Ali boxed for six more years.
He died at the age of 74, after a three-decade battle with Parkinson’s, in 2016.