A recent auction saw a 1960 rookie collector's card of "Cassius Clay", the former name of legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali, sell for $98,400 this week.
Auctioneers Goldin, who specialise in sports memorabilia, listed the card as "Lot #22: 1960 Hemmets Journal #23 Cassius Clay, Hand Cut Rookie Card – PSA MINT 9 - POP 10!"
A 'Mint 9' rating means the card is in "superb condition, with only one minor flaw such as off-white borders or a slight wax stain". 'Pop 10' means that only 10 examples of this card have ever achieved the top grade from PSA.
A minimum opening bid was set at $35,000, and 12 bids were placed in total with the 12th and final offer from an undisclosed buyer coming close to the six-figure mark.
The sale comes shortly after news that Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of the barrier-shattering former heavyweight champion of the world, will make his professional boxing debut later this year for Top Rank, the promotion ran by Ali's old promoter Bob Arum. Walsh, 20, will compete at middleweight and his first pro bout is set for Aug. 14.