Elorde foe to relive memories

Filipino sports fans will always remember Harold Gomes as the fighter whom the legendary Flash Elorde dethroned as world junior lightweight champion in the inaugural Araneta Coliseum show on March 16, 1960.

Close to 40,000 fans packed the Big Dome for Gomes’ first defense of the 130-pound crown and 5,000 more–who couldn’t be squeezed in–waited outside the stadium, listening to a ringside blow-by-blow account through a loud speaker hurriedly connected by the Araneta family.

Former world champion Barney Ross flew in from the US to work the scheduled 15-round bout as referee. In the Philippines, Ross was more known for outpointing Filipino bolo puncher Ceferino Garcia in 1935 and 1937 than for his much-publicized valor as a decorated Marine in Guadalcanal during World War II.

Gomes was no match for D’ Flash. He suffered a series of knockdowns in the early rounds until finally capitulating from a vicious right to the jaw in the seventh round.

Five months later, Elorde and Gomes met in a rematch in San Francisco. The result was no different only the knockout came much earlier. Elorde took only a round to dispose of the American of Portuguese descent.

Gomes was never the same fighter after the back-to-back losses to Elorde. He stayed away from the ring in 1961 then came back a year later to score four straight wins before losing to Johnny Bizzarro on points. It was all downhill from that point on. Gomes lost his last three outings by knockout–to Valerio Nunez in Milan and Frankie Taylor and Dave Coventry, both in London–and quietly retired in 1963 with a record of 50-10, including 24 stoppages.

Gomes turned pro in 1951 and won his first 21 bouts before losing to Tommy Tibbs on points three years later. Tibbs, more than Elorde, was Gomes’ bitter archrival. They faced off in six donnybrooksGomes won the first three and Tibbs, the last three.

In 1959, Gomes decisioned Paul Jorgensen to capture the vacant world junior lightweight title in Providence, Rhode Island. His reign was brief as he surrendered the throne to Elorde in his first defense.

After hanging up his gloves, Gomes became a Rhode Island state boxing official. He worked fights as both referee and judge. Gomes was initially affiliated with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and later shifted allegiance to the World Boxing Organization (WBO). He has judged world championship fights all over the world–in the US, Germany, Italy, England, South Africa, Argentina, Wales, France and Canada. Acelino Freitas, Naseem Hamed and Johnny Tapia were among the champions whose fights he officiated.

Elorde and Gomes became good friends after their retirement from the ring. Elorde’s wife Laura even stayed in Gomes’ Rhode Island home when she flew to the US for D’ Flash’s induction to the Hall of Fame in 1993. Filipino fighter Rolando Bohol was also a guest in Gomes’ home years ago.

Today, Gomes is 70.

Last week, Elorde’s son Johnny and his wife Liza were frantically trying to contact Gomes to invite him as special guest for the fourth annual Boxing Awards Night on March 25 at the Dusit Hotel in Makati. Elorde, who died in 1985, would be 69 on that day.

Liza scoured the internet for clues on how to reach Gomes. She stumbled on an obscure boxing website and drew a response from a fan who provided Gomes’ address. Quickly, Liza sent a letter by express mail to invite Gomes over.

Early last Tuesday morning–at 4, the phone in Liza’s Sucat home rang. She had just come from supervising a derby at the Elorde Sports Complex so she was wide awake. It was Gomes on the line.

Yes, he’d be delighted to come. Gomes said he’ll bring his wife, son, daughter and grandson for the visit. He’d like to show his family the Araneta Coliseum. Of course, Gomes will never forget his nightmarish loss at the Big Dome. But he doesn’t cringe at the thought. Araneta Coliseum is a part of Gomes’ boxing history and that’s why he’s eager to make a sentimental journey back with his family.

Gomes and his brood are arriving on March 21. He will receive the second Gabriel Elorde Memorial Trophy, which is given to an Elorde opponent of note. The tradition of the Memorial Trophy was started in the third Boxing Awards Night last year with Japanese Shigeji Kaneko the first recipient. Elorde fought Kaneko thrice and never won.

Liza said several international boxing luminaries are flying in to attend the Boxing Awards Night, also called the Banquet of Champions. Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation president Frank Quill of Australia and Pan Asia Boxing Association president Alan Kim of South Korea are among the confirmed guests.

Uncrowned world featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will be awarded the Boxer of the Year trophy that night.