The 2023 Gotta Have Sports Elite Auction

Lot #32:

Pancho Villa (Francisco Guilledo) d. 1925 Flyweight Champion Exceptional Signed RPPC (JSA)

Incredibly rare signature of World Flyweight Champion Pancho Villa (1901-1925) born Francisco Guilledo boldly signed “Sincerely yours Pancho Villa,” in steel tip fountain pen on a real photo postcard from his N.Y.C. Manager picturing this young Filipino professional fighter identifying him as the Flyweight Champion of the World. Postcard is unused. Excellent condition. 3.5 X 5.5. Comes with a James Spence Authentication (JSA) Letter of Authenticity and a Gotta Have Rock & Roll™ Certificate of Authenticity. Standing a mere 5’ 1” tall, and never breaking 114 pounds in weight, in 1923 Villa became the first Asian to win the World Flyweight Championship in a 7th round knockout of Jimmy Wilde at the Polo Grounds, NYC to the deafening roar of the crowd chanting “Viva Villa!.” Considered by historians to be one of the greatest Flyweight boxers in boxing history, Villa was never knocked out in his entire boxing career which was tragically cut short upon his sudden death at the young age of 23 from complications following a tooth extraction. As a result, signatures of this young Champion are extremely rare.