Pacquiao heads honorees in Elorde Boxing Awards

Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao will receive his sixth straight Filipino Boxer of the Year award when he steps on stage during the seventh Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the grand ballroom of the Elorde Sports Complex in Sucat, Paranaque City.

Pacquiao, named Top Fighter of the Year by the prestigious Ring Magazine and most outstanding athlete of the Philippine Sportswriters Association the last two years, will receive the highest accolade in Philippine boxing from the clan of the late Flash Elorde, in whose honor the annual awards are held.

The award is the sixth straight for the millionaire boxer who missed the first boxing award received by Malcolm Tuñacao in 2000.

Another award will make Pacquiao eligible for the Flash Elorde Hall of Fame, which is reserved for Filipino boxers who have received the highest honor for seven years.

"The late Flash Elorde reigned as world junior lightweight champion for seven years (1960-67) and it’s only fitting that we use this (seven years) as yardstick in choosing honorees for the Flash Elorde Hall of Fame," said Laura Elorde, wife of Da Flash.

Son Johnny Elorde and wife Liza who are overseeing the preparations, are staging the annual awards in memory of the boxing legend, who is also one of only two Filipinos – after Pancho Villa – to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The event is supported by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation and Elorde Foundation.

Pacquiao, who last year beat Oscar Larios and Erik Morales of Mexico twice to become the unanimous choice of international media as boxer of the year in 2006, leads 15 national champions and 21 international titlists, including younger brother Bobby (WBC Americas champion) in the Awards Night and Banquet of Champions which coincides with the boxing legend’s 72nd birth anniversary.

Other prominent names in the roster of international champions are OPBF minimum weight champion Rodel Mayol, OPBF superflyweight titlist Z Gorres and Pacific king Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista.

The complete list of Filipino champions in 2006

National: Florante Condes (strawweight), Sonny "Boy" Jaro (lightflyweight), Jojo Bardon (flyweight), Eric Barcelona, Eden Sonsona (superflyweight), Michael Domingo (bantamweight), Alex Escaner (superbantamweight), Jeffrey Onate, Vinvin Rufino (featherweight), Jimrex Jaca (super featherweight), Fernando Montilla Jr., Dexter Delada, Arnel Porras (lightweight), Bart Abapo (superflyweight), Dondon Sultan (welterweight)

International: Minimumweight: Gabriel Pumar (WBC int’l strawweight), Donnie Nietes (WBO Asia Pacific), Benjie Sorolla (WBO Intercontinental), Rodel Mayol (OPBF);

Flyweight: Rexon Flores (WBO AsPac and WBO Intercontinental), Drian Francisco (WBO AsPac), Lito Sisnorio (WBC World Youth)

Superflyweight: Z Gorres (OPBF), Nonito Donaire (WBC NABF)

Bantamweight: Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (WBO Asia Pacific), Malcolm Tuñacao (OPBF)

Superbantamweight: Bernabe Concepion (WBC World Youth), Pederito Laurente (PABA Interim)

Superfeatherweight: Cesar Amonsot (WBO AsPac), Manny Pacquiao (WBC International), Bobby Pacquiao (WBC Americas), Jun Paderna (PABA)

Lightweight: Dennis Laurente (PABA), Randy Suico (OPBF)

Welterweight: Dondon Sultan (WBF World Welterweight), Rev Santillan (OPBF).