IKE WILLIAMS - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH 04/09/1979 - HFSID 264439

IKE WILLIAMS
The lightweight boxing champ inscribes a black and white publicity photograph.
Photograph inscribed and signed: "To my good friend/Joe Balmer. Always/good luck - Sincerely/'Ike' Williams/4-9-79". B/w, 8x10. Ike Williams (1923-1994), who won his first NBA lightweight championship in 1945 with a second round KO of Juan Zurita, successfully defended his title five times before losing it to Jimmy Carter in 1951. The brilliant fighter also fought exciting above-the-weight matches with Tippy Larkin, Kid Gavilan (three times), Joe Miceli (three times) and Johnny Bratton (twice). Williams became a controversial figure in the boxing world following a dispute with his original manager in the mid-1940s. After being blacklisted by the Boxing Managers Guild, he signed a managerial contract with mobster Blinky Palermo, who controlled boxing with Frankie Carbo. Williams later testified before a 1960 Senate committee investigating organized crime and boxing that he was offered bribes (which he didn't take) and did not receive prize money (kept by Palermo) for a number of bouts. The boxer, who retired in 1956 after 154 bouts (125 wins, 24 losses and five draws) with 60 KOs, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Ink note on verso (no show through). Slightly creased. Fine condition. Set in an acrylic frame by unknown individual: 11¾x14¾. Not reviewed by us for conservation integrity. "As is" framing purchase.