The original WBC Championship Belt awarded to Iran Barkley for his win over Thomas Hearns in 1988, the belt With personalised inscription in black mar
£2,000 - £3,000
The original WBC Championship Belt awarded to Iran Barkley for his win over Thomas Hearns in 1988, the belt With personalised inscription in black marker pen, TO DERMOT FROM THE BLADE BARKLEY, WBC CHAMP 1988; sold with a certificate of authenticity signed by Iran Barkley's agent Jerry Haack and four photographs of Barkley inscribing the belt as described above; the lot also includes a boxed WBC medallion presented to Iran Barkley by Jose Suliamon, President of the WBC, in the early 1990s, also with a signed COA from Jerry Haack, the box also containing a hand written sheet from Barkley reading THE WBC, IRAN BLADE BARKLEY, 5 TIME CHAMP, BX NY, 6-16-08 (9) On 6 June 1988, at the Las Vegas Hilton, Iran ''The Blade'' Barkley, the 4 to 1 underdog beat Thomas ''The Hitman'' Hearnes to become the WBC Middleweight Champion of the World. Despite being cut halfway through the first round the bleeding Barkley landed a right hand punch which floored Hearnes. Hearnes beat the count only to be almost pummelled out of the ring by Barkley.