Eric Nicolas Sells Torre’s Gloves to Help Stray Animals
ERIC NICOLAS — The comedian attempted to sell the boxing gloves of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III to well-known collector Boss Toyo for ₱500,000 on the show Pinoy Pawnstars.
Gen. Torre wore the gloves during a charity boxing event against acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte last July 27 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The fight, however, never happened as Duterte did not appear, and Torre was declared the winner by default. Nicolas, who hosted the event, had the gloves signed by Torre immediately afterward.
According to Nicolas, his goal was not simply to sell memorabilia but to use the money for a good cause. He explained that the proceeds from the sale would be donated to two foundations that care for stray animals. “Ayoko ng naka-display lang siya. Gusto ko katulad ng ginawa nila, may kahihinatnan,” he said.
Nicolas initially asked for ₱500,000, but Boss Toyo declined, saying such a price would only apply to gloves from legendary professionals like Manny Pacquiao. Instead, Boss Toyo offered ₱27,000. Nicolas countered that he could only go as low as ₱140,000, stressing its rarity: “Ikaw lang ang meron nito. Mula Luzon hanggang Mindanao, ikaw lang.”
To verify its value, Boss Toyo called a fellow collector, who estimated the gloves at only around ₱30,000. Faced with this, Nicolas decided not to push for an immediate sale. Both later agreed that the gloves would be included in Boss Toyo’s upcoming September auction, where they might attract more bidders and fetch a higher price.
For Nicolas, the sale is about more than money. It is an effort to turn a piece of memorabilia into meaningful support for animal shelters he has long been helping. While the gloves may not reach the half-million-peso price he initially hoped for, the auction could still provide enough funds to carry out his charitable plans.