This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/12/2013.
Pair of “CLETO REYES” manufactured boxing gloves was originally sourced from boxing legend Roberto Durán’s wife, Felicidad Durán. Durán, whose career spanned five decades, is considered one of the best lightweight Champions in history and one of the best boxers of all time. The gloves were worn by Roberto Durán in his June 20, 1980 Championship bout versus Sugar Ray Leonard at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, a.k.a. “The Brawl In Montreal”. This was the same venue where Leonard won the Light Welterweight Olympic Gold Medal in the 1976 Olympics. The fight was the precursor to Leonard-Durán II, the legendary “No Más Fight” in which Durán turned away from Leonard in the 8th round and quit by pleading to the referee, “No más!” (Spanish for “No more”). “The Brawl In Montreal” was an intensely fought epic bout resulting in Durán winning the WBC Welterweight crown from Leonard in a unanimous decision; improving his record to an incredible 72-1 and setting the stage for a rematch later that year. On the outer wrist of each glove is the “CLETO REYES” manufacturers tag that reads “PROFESIONAL HECHO IN MEXICO”. The red leather gloves have white accents along with a black leather panel on the inner thumb. “DURAN #1” is written in blue pen on the interior of each glove. Parts of the soft plastic housing for the manufacturers tag are no longer present, possibly from when the fight tape was removed. A portion of the laces remain on the left glove, the laces on the right glove were fully cut off. The left glove has been signed by Durán in black ballpoint pen. WBC President, José Sulaimán, has also signed the inside wrist of the left glove in black ballpoint pen, the signatures rate an 8 overall. The gloves are properly tagged, were presented to us as fight-worn and in our opinion, show appropriate use. The gloves are in EX condition and are accompanied by a LOA from the CEO of Grant Boxing, Inc., Grant Elvis Phillips, who personally received the gloves from Felicidad Durán. Further accompanied by a LOA from JSA and a copy of the June 30, 1980 issue of Sports Illustrated with Durán and Leonard mid-fight on the cover and additional fight photos on the inside pages.