Best of Phl boxing feted at 14th Elorde Awards

MANILA, Philippines – If boxing legend, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, was alive, his 79th birthday party would have been celebrated in the best way possible during the 14th Elorde Awards night as Philippine boxing legends and the stars of today gathered for one night at Sofitel Hotel, where they were treated with not just good hotel food, but with also six fight cards that featured a double main event.

In the first main event bout, Marco Laurente retained the Philippine bantamweight championship against Jetro Pabustan by a technical decision at 2:00 of the fifth round. The second main event crowned the new Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation champion, Jonathan Taconcing, who won by TKO at 1:42 of the 11th round against Vergilio Silvano.

The supporting main event featured Juan Miguel Elorde knocking out Indonesian Budi Risky at the 2:11 mark of the first round.

In other matches, Wilbert Berondo defeated Raul Luba in the third round by a way of knockout; Raymond Yanong stopped Christian Ryan in the second canto; and Jeffrey Francisco outpointed Fidel Cuyno.

At the awards night, WBO lightweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, former WBO minimum titleholder Merlito Sabillo, IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero and WBO superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire were given the highest honor of the night as the Boxers of the Year.

Nonito Donaire Jr. with Sen. Bongbong Marcos (Photo by Mike Romero)

“This is incredible. It gives me great pleasure and honor to be here standing in front of everyone from the old and the new champions,” Donaire said in his acceptance speech. “Hopefully, we can bring more glory from all the champions here and myself as well.”

The night also gave tribute to former Filipino world champions Erbito Salavarria, Marvin Sonsona, Rolando Navarette, Rene Barrientos, Ronnie Magramo, Tacy Macalos and Domingo “Pretty Boy” Lucas.

Awards were also given to Michael Aldeguer as the best promoter, Silvestre Abainza for best referee, Atty. Danrex Tapdasan as the best judge and Edmund Villamor for best trainer. WBO Asia-Pacific/WBO international super bantamweight champion Genesis Servania was hailed as the most promising boxer of the year.

The fight of the year was given to the OPBF superflyweight championship featuring Arthur Villanueva retaining his championship by unanimous decision against Marco Demencillo, which was held on April 20 of 2013.

A special citation was also given to international referee Bruce McTavish. Meanwhile, posthumous awards were presented to the late boxing promoter Ramon “Moy” Lainez and WBC President Jose Sulaiman. Other citations were given to WBO vice president Leon Panoncillo, promoter Naris Singwancha, boxing judge Salven Lagumbay, former boxing champion Young Frisco, Cobra Energy Drink, Contour Splinting Services, Rotary Club of Manila 101 and Sofitel Hotel.

A total of 41 international champions from different weight categories were also given recognition and awards.

Sen. Bongbong Marcos graced the event as he was chosen by Laura Elorde, wife of Flash Elorde and the matriarch of Philippine boxing, as the guest speaker for the night.

Laura Elorde, wife of the great Gabriel 'Flash' Elorde (Photo by Mike Romero)

“Dapat sa umpisa pa lamang ng pagsabak ng training nandyan na ang ating gobyerno para tumulong. The support (of the government) should not come after the fact of having won a fight and not just in a form of paper resolutions recognizing the victory and merit of our boxers,” said Sen. Marcos during his speech. “It is for these reasons that I am making this pledge before you all, our Filipino boxers and athletes and will expect, you can always, my full support as a legislator and as a fellow Filipino.”