Recalling Elorde’s Garden bouts

It’s been over 50 years since the late Flash Elorde fought his last bout yet he continues to be fondly remembered and revered by boxing institutions all over the world. Last week, Elorde was inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame (NBHF) in Los Angeles, California, with his son Johnny delivering acceptance remarks and receiving a trophy with a symbolic bronze glove, certificate and medal to mark the occasion. The certificate of congratulations to Elorde was signed by Marqueece Harris-Dawson, council member of the 8th district of Los Angeles and emblazoned by the city’s gold seal.

The NBHF cited Elorde for his seven-year reign as world junior lightweight champion and his exploits in US venues, including Madison Square Garden in New York City, Cow Palace in San Francisco, San Francisco Gardens, Memorial Civic Auditorium in Stockton, Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu International Center (now the Blaisdell Center) and Cleveland Arena.

Three of Elorde’s fights in the US were held at Madison Square Garden, once known as the Mecca of Boxing. In the book “Between the Ropes at Madison Square Garden: The History of an Iconic Boxing Ring 1925-2007,” writer Mark Allen Baker recounted Elorde’s fights against Puerto Rican Miguel Berrios on Nov. 9, 1956, another Puerto Rican Frankie Narvaez on Aug. 4, 1965 and still another Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz on Nov. 28, 1966.

Elorde lost to Berrios on a bloody unanimous 10-round decision, beat Narvaez on a split 10-round verdict and was knocked out by Ortiz at 2:01 of the 14th round in a world lightweight title rematch. In his first meeting with Ortiz, Elorde was stopped at 1:44 of the 14th round at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Feb. 15, 1964. Elorde went on to win 10 of his next 11 bouts, earning a second crack at Ortiz’ crown.

Here are Baker’s accounts of Elorde’s three fights at the Garden. The first: “Berrios put on a powerful punching display to take a 10-round united judgment over Filipino southpaw Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde. As clever a boxer as Elorde was, Berrios seemed to always have a successful counter.”

The second: “A 10-round split decision awarded to Elorde over Narvaez touched off an uproar. Narvaez, an 11-5 favorite, witnessed his fans greet the verdict with such a degree of dissatisfaction that a riot broke out. Witnesses stood or scrambled in disbelief as chairs from the mezzanine began raining down like a summer storm. Soon anything breakable became a target, from chairs and windows to even electrical fixtures. When fire equipment began landing only feet from ringside, Garden police took action. They engaged a fire hose and turned it on the rioters. Shattered glass became a floor covering and even the organ found a trajectory over a nearby wall. Once outside, the rioters continued their demolition by launching bricks, stones and bottles. Phil Rosenberg, a former boxer and now New York State Athletic Commission deputy commissioner, was struck by an airborne fire axe. As for the rioters, they were caught and arrested. Ironically, the ring battle was rather tame compared to the post-fight free for all. There were no knockdowns but Narvaez bled profusely from much of the battle. Judging ringside was indeed close – the press favored Narvaez – but hardly worthy of a major disturbance. The 30-year-old Elorde, an established ring veteran who was highly respected, had last appeared in the City Ring back in 1956.”

The third: “Carlos Ortiz retained his world lightweight title when he was given credit for knocking out Elorde. It was far from an exciting Garden engagement but Elorde had never been knocked down or knocked out in 96 fights.”

Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao never fought at the Garden but his brother Bobby battled once in the fabled site, halting Kevin Kelley in the fourth round for the WBC Continental Americas superfeatherweight belt on June 10, 2006.