| |
|
Elorde grandson ready to rumble
By Virgi T. Romano
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 30 Mar 2006
Now that he has graduated from college, Juan Martin Vicencio Elorde will now fulfill his very first dream - to become a boxer - just like his father and grandfather.
Juan Martin or Bai, to his family and friends, is now training at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) gym at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex for about five months.
The 21-year-old, 5?8? Bai, a graduate of Hotel, Restaurant & Institution Management from (La Salle) St.Benilde College, is the son of Johnny (Elorde), who once gave the Philippines a gold medal honor during the 1979 SEA Games in Jakarta. And most significantly, Bai is a grandson of the ?Greatest Filipino Boxer? Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
And just like his father and lolo, Bai campaigns in the lightweight division.
Bai showed he has the potential of making it big in the amateur scene, when he easily outlasted his opponent at the 2002 National Open held in Iriga City, where he won a gold medal.
?Actually, ABAP was offering a spot for Bai in the national team after he won in Iriga, but he simply refused it because he wants to finish first his studies,? said Liza (Elorde), wife of Johnny and mother of Bai.
And just like other Filipino boxers from the ABAP?s fold, Bai?s ultimate goal is to win the very first gold medal in the Olympic Games.
"That's his ultimate goal, although mahirap, pero malay natin siya 'yung suwertehin," Liza added.
Bai, together with the other national boxers were scheduled to compete in King?s Cup in Bangkok (April 4-10) before political turmoil brought about by calls for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down, shelved the tourney.
The Philippines has yet to win a gold medal in the Olympics and the best the Filipino had achieved were two silvers courtesy of Anthony Villanueva (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and Mansueto Velasco Jr. (1996 Atlanta Olympics).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Virgi T. Romano.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KRISTIAN PRENGA TO TAKE PLACE IN JEDDAH ON JULY 25 – LIVE ON DAZN – AS HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF IN LONDON
, Tue, 02 Jun 2026Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Gets a kick out of British sports fans
, Tue, 02 Jun 2026GUSTAVO TRUJILLO CONTINUES HEAVYWEIGHT ASCENT WITH DEVASTATING FIRST-ROUND TKO
, Mon, 01 Jun 2026Boxing Insider Promotions Brings Regional Card to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13
, Mon, 01 Jun 2026Chess, in whatever form, is a great equalizer
By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026UNBEATEN CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE RETURNS TO FACE JING AGUAN IN A LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT HEADLINING SANMAN 101
, Mon, 01 Jun 2026Lebosada, Sia rule DSA Open golf
By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Davao Chess Eagles in FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz in Hong Kong
By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Pido retains crown, Pulleda wins
By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Juarez defeats Valle by split decision to retain WBC belt in El Paso,Texas
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026Jose Sulaiman's 95th birthday is being celebrated with events around the world
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan is now one of the IBF board of directors
, Sun, 31 May 2026Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament gets underway
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 May 2026Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 May 2026O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 30 May 2026WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz
, Sat, 30 May 2026FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
, Sat, 30 May 2026AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday
, Sat, 30 May 2026Juego Todo exists in two powerful dimensions
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026‘The Homecoming’ Postponed in Vancouver
, Sat, 30 May 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy
, Sat, 30 May 2026Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026Johann Chua claims Duya Airplay Sport 5800 Charity Cup Crown, pockets US$50,000 tops prize
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 May 2026“While others debate governance, the IBA continues to deliver.” IBA CEO & Secretary General Chris Roberts OBE on the organisation’s resilience and global ambition
, Sat, 30 May 2026MP Pro Announces Signed Undefeated Prospects J'Hon Ingram, Amir Anderson, David Lopez, and Kayla Gomez to Compete on "Pugilist Revolution" June 19 in Long Beach, California
, Sat, 30 May 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
