Olympics event aiming to set sales record as famous items auctioned

as the eyes of the world watch the progress of the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2012 Games in London this summer, sports fans will be looking to buy their own piece of Olympic history at forthcoming auctions of sporting memorabilia.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

A 1948 Olympic torch, and the official report of the London games, will both feature in Bonhams’ Olympics Sale on July 25 when the torch is expected to fetch £1,200.

Also due to go under the hammer at Bonhams, will be the boxing gloves worn by Henry Cooper during a bout against Cassius Clay in 1963 with his gold heavyweight Lonsdale belt for the heavyweight championship of Great Britain which he claimed three times.

Both items are included the auction house’s Sporting Memorabilia Sale on May 29 and are expected to fetch £12,000 and £60,000 respectively when auctioned alongside other items, including the legendary “six, sixes” cricket ball, bowled when Garfield Sobers, captaining Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, became the first batsman ever to hit six sixes in a single over of six consecutive balls. It is expected to fetch £25,000.