MANILA, Philippines - Newly crowned light flyweight champions Rey Loreto of the International Boxing Organization and Randy Petalcorin of the World Boxing Association will be honored as Boxer of the Year awardees during the 15th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards and Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Manila Hotel with the Elorde Boxing gyms, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Pagcor, and Cobra as main presentors.
The 24-year-old Loreto, born in Davao del Sur and brought up in Benguet, claimed the IBO light flyweight title with a stunning KO upset of South African Nkosinathi Joyi in January last year, then knocked out Thai Heri Amol in the seventh round in October in his first title defense.
Petalcorin, a GenSan boxer now based in Melbourne, won by TKO over Samranasak Singmanasak of Thailand in March and gained the interim WBA light flyweight title in August by stopping Walter Tello of Panama in Shanghai.
Loreto and Petalcorin join IBF light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and WBO superbantamweight Nonito Donaire who will be enshrined into the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame for their feat as Elorde Boxer of the Year awardees for seven consecutive years.
Manny Pacquiao, world champion in eight different divisions, was the first to be enshrined into the Elorde Hall of Fame for copping Philippine pro boxing’s highest award for seven straight years.
Also to receive major awards are 37 international champions, from minimumweight to superwelterweight, in formal ceremonies coinciding with the 30th death anniversary and 80th birth anniversary of Flash Elorde.
Elorde was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame as the longest-reigning world champion in the junior lightweight division, from 1960-67. Elorde’s uninterrupted seven-year reign in one division has remained unsurpassed.
He was the second Filipino to receive the distinction after pre-war boxing hero Pancho Villa.
The awards will be presented by the Elorde clan, led by the legend’s wife, Laura, in rites also serving as a gathering of past and current world champions in the traditional Elorde Banquet of Champions.
The Elorde Memorial Awards will also honor 13 Filipino national champions, with special awards and citations to be given to last year’s most promising boxer and best boxing match, best promoter, referee and judge, as well as entities and individuals who have contributed to the promotion of professional boxing in the previous year.
Details: Elorde Sports Center at tel. No. 8250625; 8264463 and 09172504156.look for Peter or Beth.