1948 Freddie Mills fight worn gloves v Gus Lesnevich (Mills wins Light-Heavy World Title)
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The gloves worn by Freddie Mills when he won the World Light-Heavyweight Title from Gus Lesnevich on July 26, 1948 at White City Stadium, London. The burgundy 6oz gloves have been photo matched to the fight and are painted on the backhand of each glove: "FREDDIE MILLS WON ON POINTS v GUS LESNEVICH — World Lt. Heavyweight Championship — WHITE CITY 26 JULY 1948". Each glove has been stamped inside 'No 1' which indicated that they are the fight used gloves rather than the back up pair. Mills' name is also written inside each glove. The gloves are accompanied by a letter of authenticity from renowned boxing authority Craig Hamilton. A previous Bonhams tag is still attached to the left hand glove.
Having been knocked out in the tenth round of his previous title challenge against Lesnevich two years earlier, Mills was again matched against the Light Heavyweight Champion. This time the fight took place in front of a much larger crowd of 46,000. Lesnevich was cut over both eyes early in the fight and later dropped heavily by the Mills twice in round ten. The Champion launched a ferocious attack in the twelfth and thirteenth rounds, but Mills responded in the last two sessions; at the end of the fifteen rounds, he was awarded the decision by the referee, upsetting the odds to become Champion of the World.
Provenance: Jim and Theresa Earle collection, sold via Bonhams in October 2021. Jim Earle purchased the gloves from Craig Hamilton, January 1992.
Having been knocked out in the tenth round of his previous title challenge against Lesnevich two years earlier, Mills was again matched against the Light Heavyweight Champion. This time the fight took place in front of a much larger crowd of 46,000. Lesnevich was cut over both eyes early in the fight and later dropped heavily by the Mills twice in round ten. The Champion launched a ferocious attack in the twelfth and thirteenth rounds, but Mills responded in the last two sessions; at the end of the fifteen rounds, he was awarded the decision by the referee, upsetting the odds to become Champion of the World.
Provenance: Jim and Theresa Earle collection, sold via Bonhams in October 2021. Jim Earle purchased the gloves from Craig Hamilton, January 1992.
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