CLAY, CASSIUS 1958 TOMORROW'S CHAMPION AMATEUR TROPHY (1958)

Tomorrow's Champions was a local television program in Louisville, Kentucky, which featured bouts between local amateur boxers. It aired on NBC affiliate WAVE from 1954 to 1966. It was produced by Louisville police officer and boxing trainer Joe Martin who had discovered Cassius Clay at the age of twelve. Future World Heavyweight Champions Cassius Clay and Jimmy Ellis got their starts boxing on the program. Offered here is an original boxing trophy awarded to Cassius Clay in 1958 for his victory on Tomorrow's Champions on WAVE-TV in Louisville. The trophy was part of the collection of the gym Clay trained in as an amateur, Columbia Street Gym in Louisville. When the gym closed in the early 1960's the trophy went to an employee Dan Devlin (known as "DD").
This trophy features a gold color medal generic fighter resting on a white bakelite base. There is a band on the base which is inscribed, "TOMORROW'S CHAMPION WAVE-TV DIVISION WINNER." Inside the trophy in red marker is written, " WON BY CASSIUS CLAY 1958." 9 1/4" high. No cracks or breaks and perfectly intact. Comes with a full letter of authenticity from the son of Daniel Devlin (DD). One of the earliest trophies attributed to Cassius Clay which has surfaced.