Muhammad Ali glove from Henry Cooper fight up for sale

A different pair of gloves featuring a split and said to be from the fight were sold by Christie’s in 2001 for £37,600 - more than double the estimate.

But in February this year Stuart Bull, of Chard Auctions in Somerset, put up a split left glove up for sale with a guide price of £300,000 to £500,000.The glove, currently being kept in a secret vault. (Image: Daniel Dayment/SWNS)

He now estimates the glove, currently being kept in a secret vault, will sell online for between £4m and £6m, reports claim.

This time Stuart's compiled a 65-page research document - including letters from the factory.

His glove is being sold in an online auction which ends on October 31.

Stuart said: "I've never been in any doubt that for one minute - for one second - that I've the genuine glove. I know I have it.

"The evidence I have collected since February has just proved that."

Stuart claims the glove was returned to makers Baily's, based in Glastonbury, straight after the fight.

It remained there until Richard Mayers, a since-deceased managing director, gave the glove to his partner, Stuart claims.

The glove is currently being kept in a secret vault. (Image: Daniel Dayment/SWNS)

The woman's son, Simon Hawkins, 54, from Seaton, Devon, is now selling the glove.

A handwritten letter from Richard to his partner, that Stuart has, says he joined the company in 1963.

It said: "I declare this glove to be genuine. I've always been aware of it's significance, safety, and provenance."

Stuart says as part of his research he compared his glove to Cooper's gloves which he says were made in the same factory, with the same materials and his are "identical".

The Christie's gloves were sold for £37,600 in 2001, according to newspaper reports.

They featured in an Ali exhibition some years later.

Christie's declined to comment during the last sale.