NIETES ELEVATED TO ELORDE ? BOXING HALL OF FAME?
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 22 Jan 2015
World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes has been elevated to the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame in honor of the late great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde whose record of reigning as world junior lightweight champion for seven years and three months was surpassed by Nietes on January 1 this year.
The 32 year old Nietes who in a recent dinner tribute in Cebu announced his intentions to extend his reign to ten years will receive the accolade at the Annual Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Boxing Awards Banquet of Champions which will held on March 25 at the historic Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.
In a letter to Nietes from Juan Elorde, president of the Awards body and Elorde?s widow Laura Elorde they said ?As you have always been a part of this prestigious gathering of the best and brightest in Philippine Professional Boxing, we are happy to inform you that for your outstanding performance in the ring for the past seven (7) long years and having been adjudged ?Boxer of the Year? consecutively from years 2008 to 2014, the ELORDE Family and the organizers of this Banquet of Champions are proud to elevate you to the ELORDE BOXING HALL OF FAME in honour of the great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.?
Since the inception of the Annual Awards, only Manny Pacquiao was elevated to the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
The letter stated that ?For a boxer to be elevated to the Elorde Hall of Fame, he should have been ?Boxer of the Year? for 7 years consecutive of the Elorde Awards. Seven years, because those were the years that ?The Flash? reigned as world champion. You will now be included in the roster of an elite class that will be etched in the history of Philippine Boxing.?
Laura Elorde and the family of ?Flash? were among the first to congratulate Nietes when he surpassed Elorde?s long-time record.
In a touching message to Nietes, Ms. Elorde said:
"When my late husband Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde won the world junior lightweight title at the inauguration of the Araneta Coliseum it was a historic occasion that brought endless joy and pride to our country and people, which is the way ?Bai? wanted it to be. He fought not for personal glory but for the glory of the Philippines and during his reign of seven years and three months he fought the best in his weight division.
Like his dear friend Ronnie Nathanielsz wrote ? he feared no man but was humble before all men.
That his opponents became his close friends ? from Harold Gomes to Teruo Kosaka, Shigeki Kaneko and Carlos Ortiz ? reflects the recognition they gave him in return for the respect Bai gave the sport and the men he faced in the ring with quiet dignity.
Bai Elorde was humble in victory, magnanimous in defeat and displayed these same values and virtues both in and outside the ring.
Donnie Nietes in many respects is like Elorde ? a simple man from humble beginnings but a true champion who has, by his success, earned the admiration of our people.
To us ? the members of the Elorde family ? Donnie?s surpassing of Bai?s long-standing record is a tribute to his skill, dedication and hard work.
We are indeed proud that ?Bai? reigned as a world champion for seven years and three months and are prouder still that a good and decent Filipino champion rose to take his place among the heroes of our time.
Good luck Donnie Nietes and God bless you."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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