“That $3,000 Robe Is Bad Luck!”: The Story Behind Muhammad Ali’s ‘Cursed’ Gift from Elvis Presley

It was a friendship that united two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century—one the undisputed “King of Rock ’n’ Roll,” the other “The Greatest” in the boxing ring. But when Elvis Presley gifted Muhammad Ali an opulent, rhinestone-covered robe in 1973, the gesture of admiration turned into a superstition that would follow Ali for the rest of his life.

Within just six weeks of wearing the robe, Ali went from victory to defeat—and a broken jaw—prompting him to label the extravagant garment “bad luck” and retire it forever.

The Gift of Glamour: Elvis’s Extravagant Tribute

The story began on February 14, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Elvis Presley, already famous for his bejeweled stage costumes, presented Muhammad Ali with a custom-made boxing robe worth an estimated $3,000—a small fortune at the time. The robe was dazzling, embroidered with jewels and sequins in Elvis’s signature Vegas style.

But there was one notable flaw: instead of the intended “The People’s Champion,” the back of the robe read “People’s Choice.” The mistake reportedly disappointed Presley, but Ali accepted it graciously, laughing off the mix-up and thanking his friend for the thoughtful gesture.

The two men shared mutual respect. Both had conquered their respective worlds through charisma, artistry, and unrelenting self-belief. The robe was meant to symbolize that shared greatness—a meeting of two cultural titans.

Fight One: A Glamorous Debut and a Victory

That same night, Ali debuted the robe in the ring during his Las Vegas bout against British heavyweight Joe Bugner. The crowd erupted when he entered wearing Elvis’s gift—a shimmering spectacle under the arena lights.

Ali went on to win the fight by unanimous decision, celebrating his first outing in the robe with triumph. The flashy attire, at least for one night, seemed to bring good fortune.

Fight Two: The “Curse” Is Born

Six weeks later, on March 31, 1973, Ali wore the robe again—this time for a match against Ken Norton in San Diego. The fight would prove fateful.

Norton, considered the underdog, delivered a stunning upset, defeating Ali by split decision. More dramatically, in the second round, he broke Ali’s jaw with a powerful punch. It was only the second professional loss of Ali’s storied career.

Superstitious or not, the coincidence was too much for Ali to ignore. According to boxing historians, he later exclaimed, “That $3,000 robe is bad luck!” From that night forward, he never wore it again.

Beyond the Ring: A Friendship That Endured

Despite the robe’s unlucky reputation, the friendship between Ali and Presley remained strong. In later interviews, Ali spoke warmly about the bond they shared.

“Elvis was my close personal friend,” Ali recalled years later. “He came to my Deer Lake training camp about two years before he died. He told us he didn’t want nobody to bother us. He wanted peace and quiet—and I gave him a cabin in my camp, and nobody even knew it.”

Their relationship reflected a mutual understanding between two men who, despite their fame, often sought solitude and spiritual peace beyond the spotlight.

The Robe’s Legacy: From “Cursed” to Cherished

Though Ali may have retired the robe in frustration, it survived as a remarkable artifact of American cultural history. Today, the glittering piece of memorabilia resides at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, where it draws visitors from around the world.

There, the robe serves as a reminder not of bad luck, but of friendship, respect, and the unique connection between two men whose influence transcended sport and music alike.

What began as a symbol of superstition has become a sparkling testament to the shared humanity of two icons—proof that even “The Greatest” and “The King” could find inspiration in one another’s greatness.