signed photo's of boxers

[bad mamma jamma]

just curious, my mate was given a signed photo of Muhammad Ali a few years ago, it is an a3 size colour pic of Ali when he was Cassius Clay at the Fifth Street Gym. with an original sig on it,it is not a copy...but his uncle who gave it to him lost the certificate of authenticity...it is a bit dog eared at the edges but in general quite a decent quality...would he get much for it if he sold it given the authenticity cert has been lost?
i told him not to put it on ebay and get it valued..would that be worth it?

[bad mamma jamma]

Certificates of authenticity aren't worth the paper they are written on. So the loss of that is not so much of a problem. Like any piece of art or collectable, being able to provide provenance (or make it up convincingly, as many do) is the secret to success. As long as you can convince the potential buyer that the product is legit, they will be happy.

There is so much fake stuff out there, it is unreal. In my opinion, the majority of autographed items sold on ebay are not authentic. Many people share my view and because of this, prices on that site are low. I would, therefore, advise you not to use ebay as a guage for the items maximum, potential worth.

thanks for the response, will bear it in mind, cheers

[Poncey]

just curious, my mate was given a signed photo of Muhammad Ali a few years ago, it is an a3 size colour pic of Ali when he was Cassius Clay at the Fifth Street Gym. with an original sig on it,it is not a copy...but his uncle who gave it to him lost the certificate of authenticity...it is a bit dog eared at the edges but in general quite a decent quality...would he get much for it if he sold it given the authenticity cert has been lost?
i told him not to put it on ebay and get it valued..would that be worth it?

I collect autographs.

COAs are worth the paper they're written on provided the COA is registered, quantified and proof is provided of the signatory.

Don't put it on eBay for starters.

Could you post a pic of it?

The style and size of the auotgrpah will affect the cost quite a bit. As will the pic it's on.

To give you a rough figure, you may get £1000 to £1500 for this if you're lucky and might be able to put you in touch with a website that deals with Ali. He'd probably give you a better price than eBay.

I once saw Joe Louis's signed gloves from the Marciano fight sell for £500 on there so avoid at all costs.

[rhino222]

a photo of the boxer signing it is thebest proof of authenticity

[Poncey]

Partially correct. Provided the COA is registered with a recognised body.

[bobmee]

Depends as well if he signed it Cassius Clay or Muhammad Ali.

Ali signatures aren't worth a lot, unless you get lucky at a charity auction or something, as he's signed so much over the years. His bona fide signature is surprisingly small.

Obviously if it's a photo of him in the Fifth Street Gym and signed Cassius Clay, then you've got something good.

[Poncey]

Good point. If it's signed like that, you've hit the jackpot.

[bobmee]

Signatures can be a nightmare. For example - Erik Morales once signed a tee-shirt and gave it to me (without being asked, he was just being friendly) and signed it Eric. I just put it in a drawer when I came home from the trip, but were I ever to want to sell it or give it away, nobody would believe it was authentic.

[Poncey]

The Ali picture I was gonna buy has gone up 100% over the last year. It's a dual signed one with Frazier.

To be taken in the nicest sense; but as he's getting older and more poorly, the value of his memorabilia is increasing.

[bad mamma jamma]

just curious, my mate was given a signed photo of Muhammad Ali a few years ago, it is an a3 size colour pic of Ali when he was Cassius Clay at the Fifth Street Gym. with an original sig on it,it is not a copy...but his uncle who gave it to him lost the certificate of authenticity...it is a bit dog eared at the edges but in general quite a decent quality...would he get much for it if he sold it given the authenticity cert has been lost?
i told him not to put it on ebay and get it valued..would that be worth it?

I collect autographs.

COAs are worth the paper they're written on provided the COA is registered, quantified and proof is provided of the signatory.

Don't put it on eBay for starters.

Could you post a pic of it?

The style and size of the auotgrpah will affect the cost quite a bit. As will the pic it's on.

To give you a rough figure, you may get £1000 to £1500 for this if you're lucky and might be able to put you in touch with a website that deals with Ali. He'd probably give you a better price than eBay.

I once saw Joe Louis's signed gloves from the Marciano fight sell for £500 on there so avoid at all costs.

thanks for the feedback...will post a pic of it next week, i told him not to sell and to wait until (unfortunately) the greatest expires as it will be worth more.

the signature is, I think, Muhammad Ali and not Cassius Clay, but the photo is a glossy colour version, not perfect condition but ok..i have not seen a copy of it on ebay or anywhere else.

[demolitiondaley]

a photo of the boxer signing it is thebest proof of authenticity

Still open to copying though, someone could get one genuine signed glove with a photo and then just buy a load of the same gloves and print loads of the same photo then forge the signiture on the gloves robbin gets!

[King Tubby]

Signatures can be a nightmare. For example - Erik Morales once signed a tee-shirt and gave it to me (without being asked, he was just being friendly) and signed it Eric. I just put it in a drawer when I came home from the trip, but were I ever to want to sell it or give it away, nobody would believe it was authentic.

Especially as his name is Erik.

[black panther]

a photo of the boxer signing it is thebest proof of authenticity

Still open to copying though, someone could get one genuine signed glove with a photo and then just buy a load of the same gloves and print loads of the same photo then forge the signiture on the gloves robbin gets!

That's what I would do!

[bobmee]

"Especially as his name is Erik."
*******************

??? That's what I meant. His name's Erik but he signed it Eric...

[bennie]

Boxref told me he saw Roy Jones Jnr turn away a small boy requesting an autograph; Marvin Hagler turned away a young Kevin Mitchell; Frazier wanted £25.
As Bob says, the whole thing is a nightmare.

[Poncey]

Holmes charged at the IBHOF.

[bigjack]

Holmes charged at the IBHOF.

I don't blame fighters for charging. They know that these days most autograph hunters run straight off to sell them on.

Holmes is my all time favourite fighter and when i went to vegas to see him fight holyfield he would only sign autographs if people bought one of his tapes playing in his band,i refused but still worship the ground he walks on

[mickey1975]

I have been a few times to the memoribilia fayre at the NEC in Birmingham.You do pay,but you get see the fighters signing.Its no wonder they treat it like a business though,collecters are lined up with loads of programmes,posters etc taking pictures of them signing their items for the COA's.Ive seen Duran,Leonard,Frazier,La motta and loads of lesser fighters there(Buster Douglas,Tommy Morrison,etc) but the quality has gone down in the last year.The next one,in late March has a load of European Ali victims.I wont be going.The big names normally cost about £20-25 and the not so well known about £10.They dont mind a photo for that as well.I also drove to Newcastle once for a Holyfield book signing and he refused to sign!He gave out pre-printed stickers to stck in your book!

[bennie]

I don't blame fighters for charging. They know that these days most autograph hunters run straight off to sell them on.

Holmes is my all time favourite fighter and when i went to vegas to see him fight holyfield he would only sign autographs if people bought one of his tapes playing in his band,i refused but still worship the ground he walks on

To be fair, Larry is reknowned for being a miserly so an so. Great fighter. I have heard people say he is the best heavyweight in history. Most scoff at that but it is not a bad shout.

He cracks almost everybody's top five. He's miserly but shells out to phone Earnie Shavers, who lives in the Wirral, once a week, which is a nice touch.

[Poncey]

Isn't Ernie back in the US now?

Whilst I appreciate collectors take the piss. Charging a kid that just wants one is disgusting.

[bennie]

Isn't Ernie back in the US now?

Whilst I appreciate collectors take the piss. Charging a kid that just wants one is disgusting.

Earnie is anywhere his woman is. Women are his weakness.