THE ?FLASH? ELORDE STORY GETS GREAT REVIEWS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 11 Sep 2013
The two-hour documentary, ?The ?Flash? Elorde Story? has received great reviews from boxing promoters, writers and the family of the late world junior lightweight champion.
Released by Viva Communications Inc., and available at all Video City outlets nationwide, respected boxing patron Antonio ?Tony? Aldeguer who was one of those who urged us to provide an insight into the life and times of the first Filipino to be enshrined in the ?International Boxing Hall of Fame? said the DVD ?is a must-see video for its depiction of a rag to riches story of a humble yet great boxing icon in the person of Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.?
Aldeguer said ?For a boxing enthusiast like me, this DVD is a long-awaited collector?s item that showcase the highlights of the historical battle of Elorde against Hall of Famer Carlos Ortiz and Sandy Saddler and a few classic fights featuring Teruo Kosaka, Ismael Laguna, Harold Gomes, Sung Kang ?II, Vicente Rivas and few more.?
The boxing patron who established the famed ALA Gym and ALA Promotions remarked ?This excellently narrated documentary of a boxing hero is worth emulating by all athletes for its depth and sincerity in one?s quest for fame and fortune and a learning experience of humility for one who will have achieved it.?
Aldeguer added ?The Flash Elorde Story is a treasure that must be preserved to immortality.?
Well known boxing writer Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin said he watched the DVD and never thought that it was two hours long.
Giongco said he enjoyed the story and was ?happy to see rare pieces of footage of Elorde?s fights? and enjoyed the fights with Frankie Narvaez, Carlos Ortiz and Teruo Kosaka ?the most? even as he remarked ?I was mesmerized by the interviews with Tanny Campo and the anecdotes of those you spoke with in Bogo? who included a classmate of Elorde and a former sparring partner who trained with Elorde in the churchyard.
Giongco was enthusiastic when he saw Elorde doing an interview with the late Joe Cantada and the other times when Elorde was speaking. He regretted the fact that he was still in High School when he (Elorde) passed away and ?I didn?t get a chance to interview him.?
The outstanding boxing writer recalled that he ?learned a lot of stuff? from his father ?who is truly a boxing buff. He?s the one who told me about Elorde, (Rolando) Navarrete and the Thrilla in Manila and it is he who got me hooked into boxing because he kept watching the fights on TV? and remembered the extremely popular show ?Fists of Fury? on the Maharlika Broadcasting System Channel 4 during the time of President Marcos. Remember??
Giongco said ?overall it was an entertaining film and I can tell you there was nary a second wasted during the entire film.?
The widow of ?Flash?, Ms. Laura Elorde, daughter of the ?Grand Old Man? of Philippine boxing Lope ?Papa? Sarreal watched the screening of the documentary surrounded by her children, their wives, her grandchildren, relatives and friends at a huge gathering organized by Johnny Elorde?s wife Liza to mark Johnny?s birthday at their home on Sucat Road, Paranaque.
When the documentary ended Laura, who was touched by the painstaking effort put into the production said ?after watching this compilation of the boxing career of my husband, I think it was a painstaking job by the person who put it together to make it so complete.?
She said ?it will keep the memory of my husband Bai now that I have three grandsons who also want to try his career.?
She thanked us for our efforts and said ?this documentary show us how boxing was in the yesteryears when they fought 15 rounds which was really very hard.?
Laura referred to the fights of her husband with Sandy Saddler and Harold Gomes and referred to them as being ?very memorable? even as she added ?I wish my family will always remember this and I hope our Filipino boxers will try their best in the career they have chosen? as she requested us to do another documentary of other boxers who had brought honor and glory to our country.
Liza Elorde who tirelessly ensures that the memory of her father-in-law is kept alive as she put on a tremendous exhibition of Elorde?s memorabilia which marks the Annual Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Awards Night and ?Banquet of Champions? the documentary story was ?something very great and this is the time the new generation should take a look at this great story about ?Flash? Elorde because we have somehow forgotten him.?
She went on, ?its not only about him being a great boxer in his time but he exemplified a good trait ? he was humble and loved being with ordinary people in spite of the fact that he was a world champion.?
Liza believes it should serve as an example ?not only to the athletes but to people all around the world. They should get a copy of this DVD which is one of a kind. It?s a masterpiece that Ronnie has produced and its something that the Elorde family, children and grandchildren will cherish all the days of our lives.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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