The History, Sports and Pop Culture Auction

Lot #111:

Rare 1974 Muhammad Ali Zaire Float Like A Butterfly Sting Like a Bee Pinback Button

This is an extremely rare 3” diameter Muhammad Ali pinback button. Colorful, large 3 inch pin features the phrase made famous by Muhammad Ali who called himself “The Greatest” - “Float Like a Butterfly Sting Like a Bee,” promoting the 1974 championship fight commonly referred to as "The Greatest Heavyweight Championship Battle of All Time" known as "The Rumble in the Jungle" between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) fought in Zaire, Africa. The pins strong imagery featuring two of the colors associated with Pan-African nationalism pictures Muhammad Ali poised to fight in the center of the outline design of the African continent and the date of the fight, “Oct. 29th ‘74.” This was the first heavyweight championship fight ever fought in Africa! Both fighters were former Olympic Gold Medal winners. The much heavily favored Foreman was undefeated up until this time. Ali proved that he was "The Greatest," and allowed Foreman to punch himself out as he performed his famous "Rope-A-Dope" technique defeating Foreman in the 8th round. As a result of this fight, Muhammad Ali was named Fighter of the Year by Ring magazine, and "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated. Ali also received the 1974 Hickok Belt Award being named Professional Athlete of the Year.