This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/1/2019
Tom Gibbons Shelby, Montana, 1923 boxing pin, 1 1/4 inch celluloid, excellent condition. This was a heavyweight championship fight with Jack Dempsey fighting Tommy Gibbons. Dempsey won and received $200,000 and Gibbons got expenses. A terrific fighter, Gibbons only lost four fights and three of them were to Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb, asnd Gene Tunney. This is a truly rare Boxing pin from the Golden Era. In 1920 Shelby had a population of 537. In 1930 only 2300. Today its 3300. Without a doubt this was the smallest town (arguably barely a village) to ever host a Heavyweight championship fight. The promoters went broke promoting this fight. They built a facility that could seat 40,000 but less than half the seats were filled. Just an amazing story. Gibbons lost a fifteen round decision to Dempsey.