Famous Panamanian world champion boxer has ties to Arizona and Mexico
GLENDALE (September 5, 2018) – He was raised in the slums of Panama City and emerged as one of boxing’s greatest fighters, winning world championships in four weight divisions. He is a positive symbol for Latinos all over the world, and his life inspired the 2016 movie Hands of Stone. Now, several boxing collectibles belonging to Roberto Durán will hit the auction block at 10 a.m. PT on Saturday, September 15 at EJ’s Auction & Consignment, 5880 W. Bell Road, on the northeast corner of Bell Road and 59th Avenue in Glendale.
“Roberto Durán is a legend who was best known for his powerful punches, speed and tenacity,” said Erik Hoyer, owner of EJ’s Auction & Consignment. “Not many people may know that his father, an American citizen of Mexican descent, lived in Flagstaff. In fact, one of the items in the auction is a letter to his father that was postmarked from Panama in 1972.”
Hoyer expects a biddy frenzy for several items, including the green “Mano de Piedra” boxing shorts that were worn in Durán’s winning fight against Juan Medina on February 22, 1973.
“It’s possible that he wore those shorts in other fights,” Hoyer said. “We’ll also be auctioning his velvet boxing robe and worn boots as well as signed photos, a signed postcard and a memorabilia scrapbook.”
At the height of his career, Durán beat the undefeated Sugar Ray Leonard in the June 20, 1980 “Brawl in Montreal” to win the WBC welterweight championship. But during their rematch on Nov. 25 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Durán suddenly quit near the end of the eighth round. The legend is that he repeated the words “no más,” meaning “no more,” but Durán denies that he said it.
The movie Hands of Stone starred Édgar Ramírez as Durán; Robert De Niro as his trainer, Ray Arcel; and pop star Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard.
EJ’s weekly estate auctions take place every Saturday at the Glendale auction house starting at 10 a.m. (doors open at 9 a.m.). Patrons visiting EJ’s can also preview items from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and bid online.
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For more information,
visit www.ejsauction.com or call (623) 878-2003.
