SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 30: MELVIN JERUSALEM AND MARLON TAPALES ARE FIRST BOXERS OF THE YEAR AWARDEES FOR PACQUIAO-ELORDE AWARDS NIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 30 Jan 2024
Former world champions Melvin Jerusalem and Marlon Tapales will be honored in the upcoming Pacquiao-Elorde Awards night scheduled on March 25, 2024, at Okada Manila.
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The two former world champions will historically be bestowed as the first “Boxers of the Year” awardees of the first Pacquiao-Elorde Awards Night, in lieu of the annual Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards & Banquet.
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The 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao now supports the great achievements of the Elordes, who for the past two decades have been giving accolades to Filipino boxers in the Elorde annual awards night.
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The 29-year-old Jerusalem became the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world minimumweight champion last January 6, 2023, after a second-round technical knockout of Masataka Taniguchi in Osaka, Japan.
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He earned the world title in his second attempt after failing in his first world title shot on January 25, 2017 against Thai Wanheng Menayothin in his hometown in Phitsanulok, Thailand.
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Jerusalem (21-3, 12 KOs) is now training rigidly in Cebu for a possible world title shot this year. He lost the WBO world championship in his first title defense last May 27 in Indio, California against Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico via a seventh-round stoppage. Jerusalem now remains a world caliber fighter as WBC No. 6 and WBO No. 4 contender.
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The 31-year-old Tapales (37-4, 19 KOs) became the unified WBA super world super bantamweight and IBF world super bantamweight champion last April 8, 2023. He dethroned Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan via split decision in San Antonio, Texas, United States.
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Tapales went on to fight the Japanese world pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue last December 26 in Tokyo, Japan in an attempt to become the undisputed super bantamweight world champion. But unluckily, Tapales lost via a 10th-round knockout. Despite the loss to Inoue, Tapales maintained high world rankings, as he is rated as WBC No. 3, WBA No. 5 and IBF No. 5 contender.
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Most World Title Fight Wins:
Manny Pacquiao - 19
Donnie Nietes - 17
Nonito Donaire - 17
Flash Elorde - 11
Luisito Espinosa - 11
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Most World Title Defenses:
Donnie Nietes - 14
Manny Pacquiao - 10
Flash Elorde - 10
Nonito Donaire - 10
Jerwin Ancajas - 9
Luisito Espinosa - 9
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Most Wins Against Former/Current/Future World Champions:
Manny Pacquiao - 25
Nonito Donaire - 14
Pancho Villa - 10
Brian Viloria - 9
Gerry Penalosa - 9
Donnie Nietes - 9
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International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame inductees:
Pancho Villa (Boxer)
Flash Elorde (Boxer)
Ceferino Garcia (Boxer)
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Sports History: January 30, 1982 Wilfredo Benitez successfully defended his WBC junior middleweight title, for the second time, scoring a 15-round unanimous decision over the legendary Roberto Duran of Panama. The scorecards were 145-141, 144-141 and 143-142. The bout happened at the Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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It was the most awaited match between two legendary champions. Benitez, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, climbed the ring as a 9-5 favorite and displayed the skills that made him grab the title from Maurice Hope by 12th round KO. Duran fought coming from his disgusting “No Mas” defeat to Sugar Ray Leonard by 8th round TKO on November 25, 1980, and had a hard time against El Radar’s offensive and defensive skills.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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