PRES. ARROYO TO INDUCT PACQUIAO INTO ELORDE HALL OF FAME
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 23 Mar 2008
Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao who returns to the warm embrace of millions of his countrymen held in awe by his incredible performances against the best fighters in the world, will receive the highest accolade in professional boxing in the Philippines when he is inducted into the Elorde Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
The honor is certain to become more significant since Pacquiao will be inducted by his longtime supporter and fan, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in what is expected to be a memorable evening at the Centennial Hall of the historic Manila Hotel.
The 8th Annual Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Awards is a tribute to the late Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for almost seven-and-a-half years.
Elorde won the 130 pound title with a spectacular seventh round knockout victory over American Harold Gomes at the inauguration of the Araneta Coliseum on March 16, 1960. He eventually lost the title in June 1967 by a majority decision to Japan?s Yoshiaki Numata.
Pacquiao, like Elorde is a southpaw and won the WBC super featherweight title in a classic battle with the last Mexican standing Juan Manuel Marquez at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on March 16, Manila Time. Two other Filipino southpaws who also won the world junior lightweight or super featherweight title ? Rene Barrientos and Rolando Navarette are also regular guests at the annual awards.
Pacquiao is being elevated to the Hall of Fame for his singular achievement of being named ?Boxer of the Year? for seven successive years which is as long as Elorde reigned as world champion.
Pacquiao, regarded as the most exciting fighter in the world today, will share "Boxer of the Year" honors with four other Philippine world champions ? IBF minimum weight champion Florante Condes, WBO minimum weight champion Donnie Nietes, IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito Donaire and WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa.
One of the highlights of the affair will be the long overdue award to former two-division world champion Luisito Espinosa one of the great fighters of our time who won both the bantamweight and featherweight titles. Espinosa who has been living in the US for the past ten years is now able to visit the country after receiving his green card.
The 8th Gabriel Elorde ?Flash? Elorde memorial awards is hosted by the Elorde Foundation and Johnny Elorde Management International. Among the other awardees are Tony Aldeguer (Best Promoter), his son Michael Aldeguer (Best Manager), Edito ?Ala? Villamor (Best Trainer), Ferdinand Estrella (Best Referee) and AJ "Bazooka Banal (Most promising boxer).
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