Boxing fans have marked Friday, April 22 on their calendar. That is when
Heritage will be offering one of the most distinctive and unusual boxing
artifacts to ever see auction.

The belt being auctioned was awarded to
Dempsey on October 22, 1926 by the New York Boxing Writer’s Association. It is
considered the most prestigious belt that could have been awarded to a boxer at
the time, (considering the importance of the NYBWA). The belt was captured in a
photograph which shows Dempsey accepting the prize from sportswriter Wilbur Wood
and announcer Joe Humphries, who awarded a similar belt to Gene Tunney at the
same time. The belt was actually awarded one month following Dempsey’s historic
defeat at Tunney’s hands, but as the NY Boxing Writer’s Association had never
given Dempsey a belt, they decided to present the awards to both fighters at the
same time. Dempsey would fight Tunney once again, unsuccessfully, in September
of 1927 in the famous “Long Count” bout, the last important fight of his
career.

“To my knowledge, this is the only Dempsey belt that has ever
been offered at public auction, ” said Chris Ivy, Director of HSC, “making it a
rare and unique collector’s item. This is an important piece of modern American
boxing history, with an impeccable provenance, the likes of which may never be
offered publicly ever again.”

For complete details, visit www.heritagesportscolelctibles.com.
Dempsey’s belt is by no means the only highlight of this incredible Signature
Auction.