INSIDE SPORTS - THE QUEST FOR GLORY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Mar 2015
There is no doubt at all that the incredible success of Manny Pacquiao, the eight division world champion, has not only put our country on the international sporting scene and redeemed the respect for our nation and people at a time when the Philippines was down, but has also decidedly opened the doors for promising young Filipino fighters many of whom have emerged from the depths of poverty, seeking to follow the path laid before them by Manny.
Whenever a Pacquiao fight comes along there is a sudden surge of interest in boxing and in our roster of promising young fighters eager to follow in Pacquiao?s footsteps no matter how hard it is.
With the ?Fight of the Century? against undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr set for May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, interest in the Mayweather fight and other events within this period has unquestionably zoomed.
The next week will showcase one of the biggest and most exciting fight cards in recent years when the famed ALA Promotions and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN take their partnership one notch higher in presenting the 30th edition of the eminently successful ?Pinoy Pride? series which somehow meshed the vision of my good friend and the ?Voice? of ABS-CBN ? Peter Musngi and the drive and daring of youthful ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer ? in giving rise to the Pinoy Pride concept which has surely been a knockout.
But even before ?Pinoy Pride 30? -- aptly titled D Day probably in recognition of Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes and Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire who will headline the card, we will celebrate what would have been the 80th birth anniversary of one of the greatest champions of our time and unquestionably one of the nicest, most decent gentleman-boxers of an era which sparkles with glory.
On March 25 the 15th Annual Flash Elorde Boxing Awards Banquet of Champions will take place at the historic Manila Hotel with Senator Aquilino ?Koko? Pimentel as guest of honor and speaker.
In choosing Sen. Pimentel we guess the indefatigable Liza Elorde and husband Johnny who year after year put on a classy presentation, were encouraged by the senator?s efforts to legislate due recognition and compensation for the men and women who have sacrificed much in order to bring pride and joy to our countrymen and honor and glory to our country in boxing and the various other sporting disciplines.
We often wonder how Liza and Johnny Elorde are able to put together an event that is full of class and is amazingly enhanced in its quality year after year. To us it reflects their respect and love for ?Flash? Elorde, a beloved friend of ours who to this day we remember with deep down affection for his gentleness and humility.
Indeed, as we penned years ago, ?Flash? Elorde ?feared no man, but was humble before all men.?
The awardees must surely be ennobled by the awards given them even though some may be questionable in our honest opinion. But that should not in any way diminish every single award given in the name of a man who was a sterling example of goodness, decency and unsullied integrity ? Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
Two remarkable fighters, WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion who surpassed the record of Elorde himself ? a period of 7 years and 3 months - and five division world champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire will be elevated into the prestigious ?Flash? Elorde Hall of Fame and will join the first such honoree ? the incredible Manny Pacquiao.
Significantly, Nietes and Donaire will headline ?Pinoy Pride 30? some three days later along with IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara who will be honored on Wednesday as the ?Most Promising Boxer? while hardworking, talented and low key trainer Edmund Villamor will receive the award as ?Trainer of the Year? with Michael Aldeguer a runaway choice for ?Promoter of the Year.?
While we will, as always, shed a tear in remembering ?Flash? Elorde we will additionally miss his charming eldest daughter Malou who passed away recently in Las Vegas of the dreaded disease that took her father away from us, also in untimely fashion. We are sure that they will look down from the heavens in the embrace of each other and in the loving presence of a merciful God, and thank Liza and Johnny and all those present for their gracious attendance in a continuing tradition.
They will also surely bless our three champions-Nietes, Dionaire and Pagara in their continuing quest to bring honor and glory to our beloved country in a sport that has produced the heroes of our time.
Photo: Johnny Elorde (R) and wife Liza (2nd from left) with siblings.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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