Barbers to grace ‘Da Flash’ memorial boxing awards

Sen. Robert Barbers, chairman of the Senate committee on games, amusements and sports, will be the guest of honor and speaker during the third Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Memorial Sports Awards to be held March 25 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Barbers will also be on hand to present the Top Boxer of the Year award to International Boxing Federation superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao, 13 international titleholders and 18 Philippine champions during formal rites where outstanding sports leaders will also be honored for their contribution to professional boxing.

Pacquiao’s younger brother Alberto Bobby Pacquiao leads 18 Philippine champions who will be honored during the Elorde Annual Awards, the country’s highest recognition for professional boxing.

Bobby Pacquiao, hoping to step out of the giant shadows of his illustrious brother, held the superfeatherweight crown in March when Randy Suico became the OPBF champion.

Also among the top honorees are four unbeaten Philippine champions and 12 others who briefly retained their crowns last year.

Last year’s unbeaten titleholders are superbantamweight Jimrex Jaca, superlightweight Dindo Castanares and superwelterweight Ernie Alesna who ruled from January to December.

Johnny Lear held the vacant Philippine bantamweight title from September to December.

The other awardees are miniflyweights Eriberto Yukka Gejon (January to June) and Rodel Mayol (July to December), lightflyweights Celso Danggod (January) and Wendyl Janiola (February-December), flyweights Melvin Magramo (January-March) and Rolly Lunas (April-December), featherweights Samuel Duran (January-July) and welterweights Rey Pelonia and Dondon Sultan.

The Flash Elorde Awards will also fete former world champions Manny Melchor, the IBF miniflyweight titlist in 1992, and WBF miniflyweight Ronnie Magramo, who won the crown in 1994 and regained it in 1996.

Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation chairman Efraim Genuino will receive a special award for PAGCOR, a government agency that has consistently given support to professional boxing, former GAB chairman Manuel Nieto and GAB physician Nasser Cruz.

Posthumous awards will be presented to the family of former international referee Enrique "Irog" Jimenez, promoter Mamerto Besa and boxing judge Vincent Rodriguez.

Recipients of citations are the Philippine Sportswriters Association., GAB, boxing writers Nick Giongco and Virgie Romano and Fistorama, a new television boxing program.

The Elorde Awards, to be telecast over NBN-4, is sponsored by PAGCOR, Family Rubbing Alcohol, PCSO, Outlast Battery, Casa Belrina Travel, Enervon Prime, Thunderbird-Enertone, Nextel, Elorde Sports Center, Bai & Mig Party Favors and Elorde Sporting Goods International.