Opening Day Auction Closing May 9th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2015
By 1979 Lyle Alzado was arguably the best defensive end in the NFL. He'd led the league in sacks 5 of the last 7 years and was the AFC's Defensive Player of the Year in 1977. A former Golden Gloves champ back in New York, Alzado had the reputation as the toughest man in the NFL. When he and the Denver Broncos failed to reach a contract agreement Alzado decided to switch sports and turn pro boxer. Since Alzado was already a household name, the only fighter with name recognition to match his was Muhammad Ali. In the cross-sport fight of a lifetime, Lyle Alzado met Ali at Denver's Mile High Stadium on July 14, 1979. Country singer and former Negro league baseball pitcher Charlie Pride belted out the National Anthem and after a full slate of undercard bouts the toughest football player in the world met the toughest heavyweight in the world. Through 8 rounds Alzado held his own against The Champ as 20,000 fans and television cameras beamed the bout worldwide. Ali won on points of course but the publicity generated by the bout made contract negotiations with the Broncos easier and Alzado resumed his Hall of Fame bound NFL career. This original 11" x 17" black and red printed broadside advertises the upcoming fight. Both champs have signed the poster in blue ball point adjacent to their photographs, Alzado adding the year "79". The broadside is printed on thin stock and is in fine condition with some light edge wear visible. A great visual display from the greatest cross-sport boxing match of all-time. Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.