| |
|
REMEMBERING THE FLASH ELORDE-SANDY SADDLER FIGHT IN MANILA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 21 Jul 2012
One can never forget the epic battle between Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde and American Sandy Saddler in Manila on July 20, 1955 which even the World Boxing Council recalled in its daily flashback.
That night Elorde stunned the boxing world when he out-pointed the world featherweight champion Saddler in a ten-round, non title fight.
It was a fight etched in the memories of many for the sheer gallantry of Elorde against a veteran world champion who was regarded by most as one of the dirtiest boxers in the business.
The late renowned journalist Teddy Benigno didn?t give Elorde a chance against Sadler. When it was over Benigno, in his usual masterful fashion, wrote, "with his legs almost shot from under him ? his face a rucksack of welts, cuts and bruises ? his eyes mere slits ? Elorde would pull that courage from some inner, invisible scabbard and turn the tide."
Elorde won on the scorecards of all three judges. Referee Jade Sullivan gave Elorde 8 rounds and Saddler only 1 while the two other judges had Elorde ahead by 7 rounds to 3 and 8 rounds to 2.
With his new-found confidence and his ranking as a contender, the young Elorde dared to face Saddler in a rematch on January 18, 1956, with Sadler?s featherweight title on the line at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Elorde fought brilliantly and was leading on the scorecards of all the judges when the referee called a halt to the fight in the 13th round because of a nasty cut suffered by Elorde as Sadler laced, poked, elbowed and pawed the young Filipino in an ugly display of viciousness in the ring.
Boxing fans booed Saddler, howled over the stoppage and rained the ring with debris. Philippine Ambassador to Washington, the eminent diplomat Carlos P. Romulo told Elorde "you may have lost the fight, but you won the hearts of Americans by your gallantry."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026The Highly Anticipated Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A USA Boxing Amateur Show
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026DAZN and Top Rank announce a landmark multi-year media rights deal bringing elite events and a storied archive to DAZN users worldwide
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026Sampson Boxing Signs Top Junior Lightweight Contender Charly Suarez to a Promotional Contract
, Thu, 19 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
By Eric Armit, , Wed, 18 Mar 2026Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
, Wed, 18 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
