By REY DANSECO
Two great champions – Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, world champion for seven years in the 60s, and Manny Pacquiao, winner of seven world titles –– celebrate milestones when the 10th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions is held March 25 at the Harbour Tent of the Sofitel Hotel in Manila, Philippines.
Elorde will be remembered for his reign as WBC and WBA world junior lightweight champion from 1960 to 1967.
He won the title via a seventh round knockout of Harold Gomes on March 16, 1960 during the inaugural opening of the Araneta Coliseum. From there he retained the title 10 times before ceding it to Yoshiaki Numata in Tokyo in 1967.
This year also marks the 25th death anniversary and 75th birth anniversary of Da Flash, 50 years after he wrested his first world title.
Pacquiao, considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time, has won seven titles in seven weight divisions, was inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame and, like Elorde, was honored in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
“This year we celebrate the milestones of the country’s greatest boxers and, with equal importance, the resurgence of the sport through the outstanding performance of other boxers in the international arena,” said Laura Elorde, wife of the boxing legend.
To share honors in the Elorde Banquet of Champions are world champions led by Donnie Nietes (WBO strawweight), Brian Viloria (IBF lightflyweight), Nonito Donaire (IBF
flyweight), Marvin Sonsona (WBO flyweight) and Gerry Penalosa (WBO bantamweight).
The Elorde Annual Awards, hosted by the Johnny Elorde Management International and Elorde Foundation, will be presented by the Elorde family – wife Laura and children Malou, Gabriel “Bebot” and wife Arlene, Johnny and wife Liza, Theresa and husband Amor, Marty, Rita and husband Edmund, and Cucuy.
It is sponsored by the Elorde Sports Center, Department of Tourism, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., Elorde Boxing Gyms, and Southpaw Bar & Grill.
[caption id="attachment_45" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="MANNY PACQUIAO WITH WBC DIAMOND BELT"]
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