Portland, Maine — A new premium collector’s network based in Portland is thrilled to unveil a rare find on July 29 at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Ill., said Jimmy Haight, Yabe, Inc.’s chief executive officer.
A collector hired Yabe to track down 49 sports cards to accomplish their goal of completing the iconic 1948 Leaf Boxing set and offering it for sale. Yabe acquired cards of legends like Sugar Ray Robinson and Jack Dempsey to complement the true prized cornerstone of the set – the extremely rare Rocky Graziano card.
The Knockout Set, so named because Graziano is considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, is expected to draw big interest from collectors at The National, the world’s largest gathering of sports collectors, memorabilia and sports celebrities.
The Rocky Graziano in the Knockout Set is one of only eight Graziano cards known to exist and is considered the rarest boxing card in the world. Now complete, the Knockout Set is the highest-ranked 1948 Leaf Boxing set, according to Professional Sports Authenticator, which grades and authenticates sports cards and other collectibles.
“Most sets can be completed if you’re patient enough, but the 1948 Leaf Boxing set is something else entirely,” said Haight. “There are only eight Graziano cards on the planet and most of the owners will never sell. Anyone waiting for a window to own the complete set may never see it open again in their lifetime.”
He expects the set to command a seven-figure sale, noting that the value of the complete set is far greater than the sum of the individual cards because of its rarity, completeness and number-one ranking within PSA’s registry system.
Bobby Russo, founder of the Portland Boxing Club and president of Golden Gloves of America – the premier amateur boxing organization in the United States – put the value of the set in perspective:
“The 1948 Leaf Boxing set is a Hall of Fame roster: Louis, Dempsey, Sugar Ray – and more of the giants who defined our sport,” he said. “It’s one of the first sets to put the history of the sport on cardboard. Graziano adds a special element. He’s one of the fiercest competitors the ring has ever seen.”
Yabe will act as a broker for the sale, vetting potential buyers and negotiating with those who qualify to make a bid. Yabe is also offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can be the matchmaker introducing them to the eventual buyer.
“We’ve created a new kind of platform, one that can source, place and negotiate on exceptional pieces that rarely come to market,” Haight explained. “We find rare collectibles on behalf of collectors through a vetted global network.”
Procuring The Knockout Set is a big milestone for this new business, said Haight, who started the company five months ago. “Collectors have needed an efficient way to find rare items to complete and sell their collections. We’re offering that, and the Knockout Set is proof that we can do this at the highest level.”
Yabe will be at the National Sports Collectors Convention July 29-Aug. 1. The show runs through Aug. 2 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
More information about the Knockout Set and the sales process at yabemarket.com/knockout.
