Nietes, Donaire inducted to Elorde Hall of Fame

MANILA, Philippines - World champions Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire will be enshrined into the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame for their rare feat as Elorde Boxers of the Year for seven consecutive years since 2008 in formal rites highlighting the 15th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Hotel.

Nietes was a consistent recipient of the Elorde Boxer of the Year Award, given annually to world champions as well as outstanding boxers who did not become world champions but whose feat, like Manny Pacquiao,  gave the Philippines a source of pride and honor on the international stage.

Nietes became Boxer of the Year as WBO minimumweight champion in 2008, WBO strawweight titlist in 2009 and WBO and IBF light flyweight champion from 2010 to 2014.

Donaire also became the toast of pro boxing in the same period as world champion in the IBF flyweight (2008-2010), WBC and WBO bantamweight (2011), WBO and IBF super bantamweight (2012) and WBO super bantamweight (2013-14).

The Elorde Hall of Fame is Philippine pro boxing’s highest honor conferred only to Elorde seven-time Boxer-of-the-Year awardees. The first Hall of Fame honoree was Manny Pacquiao in 2008.

“The Elorde Hall of Fame is a distinction accorded to  Boxer of the Year Awardees for seven straight years,” said Laura Elorde, wife of the boxing great. “We use seven consecutive years as the yardstick since Bai Elorde was world junior lightweight champion for seven consecutive years from 1960 to 1967.”

Although Pacquiao was not world champion for seven straight years, the Elorde family explained that the People’s Champ was recognized in the annual Elorde Memorial Awards as most outstanding boxer for seven consecutive years since 2000 because of his outstanding performance, earning him the rare distinction as People’s Champ and the monicker “Pambansang Kamao”.

The 15th Elorde Memorial Awards will coincide with  the 30th death anniversary and 80th birth anniversary of Flash Elorde, the only boxer after Pancho Villa to be inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.

The Elorde Memorial Awards will also honor Filipino international and national champions, with special awards and citations to be given to last year’s most promising boxer and best boxing match, best referee and judge, as well as entities and individuals who have contributed to the promotion of professional boxing in the previous year.

The Awards are presented by the Elorde family.

More information: Elorde Sports Center tel Nos. 8264463 and 8259385.