The late Flash Elorde’s widow Laura is known as the country’s boxing matriarch. And since today is Mother’s Day, we’re writing this as a special tribute to her and the other Elorde moms – Arlene Olmos married to her son Gabriel, Jr. or Bebot and Liza Vicencio married to another son Johnny.
D’ Flash and Laura have seven children – Malu, Bebot, Johnny, Teresa, Marty, Rita and Cucuy – 20 grandchildren, including four now married, and five great grandchildren.
D’ Flash, who died of lung cancer at the age of 49 in 1985, never wanted any of his children to become a fighter but Johnny begged for a chance to try his luck in the amateurs. Johnny was a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in 1979 and figured in about 30 bouts but never turned pro. A daughter, Rita, has boxed in exhibitions, more for fitness than anything else.
Laura turned 80 last Dec. 17 which also happens to be Manny Pacquiao’s birthday.
Johnny’s son Juan Martin, or Bai (also D’ Flash’s nickname), is the only first or second generation Elorde to follow in his legendary grandfather’s footsteps. Bai, 21, is the oldest of three children. His brothers are Mig, 19, and Nico, 14. Mig is graduating this year with a hotel and restaurant management degree at St. Benilde while Nico is studying at La Salle Zobel where he plays for the varsity basketball team under coach Boris Aldeguer.
Bai, whose boxing idols are Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Pacquiao and of course, his late grandfather, logged 10 amateur fights, winning eight – four by knockout. He won the gold medal in the lightweight division at the 2002 National Open.
His mother Liza said Bai had long breaks in his amateur career to finish his hotel and restaurant management studies at St. Benilde. After graduation last year, he tried out for the Philippine national boxing team and was taken in.
For four months, Bai was quartered at the national boxing pool’s base in Baguio. But he eventually left the camp, realizing it would be a long wait before ascending the ranks. Bai admitted that he takes a backseat to SEA Games gold medalist and Asiad bronze medalist Genebert Basadre, who fights in the same weight category and will likely represent the country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“Bai joined the National Open last year and after scoring three straight knockouts, lost to Basadre,” said Liza. “He felt he’ll grow old in the amateurs because Basadre will always be first in line. So he decided to turn pro. Johnny and I tried to dissuade him but Bai explained to us that if he didn’t try it, he might live to regret it later. Bai promised us that once he thinks his pro career isn’t getting anywhere, he won’t hang on. He has a college degree to fall back on anyway.”
Bai made his pro debut in Cebu, where D’ Flash hailed, last February. He trounced Jonathan Mateo on points in a four-rounder on the “Moment of Truth” card.
“Bai’s fight was one of the first that night but a lot of fans came early to watch him,” said Liza. “I overheard some people saying they wanted to see if Bai could fight like his lolo. There’s a lot of pressure on Bai when he fights because of his name. All eyes are on him. Then, our whole family is always at ringside, praying and cheering for him. I get very nervous when he fights but we’re confident God and my father-in-law, up there, will protect him.”
In Bai’s second fight last March, he decked Leo Albao twice and scored a four-round unanimous decision. His third bout is set next month. Liza said Bai, who’s right-handed but fights left-handed, wakes up at the crack of dawn every morning to train with the other Elorde boxers and works out every day in the gym to prove he’s serious in pursuing a boxing career. His dream, like all fighters, is to win a world title.
Bebot and Arlene have four children and their only girl Grachel got married to Macky Castro in San Fernando, Pampanga, last April 28. Two boys live in the US and the youngest, Garren, plays basketball for Southridge.
Among Grachel’s principal wedding sponsors were boxing referees Ferdie Estrella and Bruce McTavish and ring announcer Ted Lerner who, as The Ring Magazine’s Philippine correspondent, wrote a piece on Bai in the July issue. Another sponsor was Violeta Beldia, one of D’ Flash’s stepsisters. She flew in for the wedding from London where she lives. D’ Flash was the youngest of 16 children and when his mother died, his father Luis remarried and had seven more children. D’ Flash was one of his father’s 23 children.
Liza and Arlene take care of the business side of their husbands’ boxing interest. Bebot manages about 15 fighters, including world-rated Juanito Rubillar and WBO Intercontinental lightflyweight champion Rexon Flores. Johnny’s stable lists 20, including PABA lightweight titlist Dennis Laurente and Philippine featherweight ruler Vinvin Rufino. Marty has 15 boxers, including world-rated Benjie Sorolla and Philippine superbantamweight king Alex Escaner.
Last week, Laura wrote a letter to GAB chairman Eric Buhain appealing for the immediate lifting of the ban on Filipino fighters traveling to Thailand.
“There are many ways to police our fighters from illegally fighting abroad,” she said in the letter. “There are many ways to also police our unscrupulous illegal managers from preying on our fighters. There are also many ways to have better relationships with our neighboring boxing countries. Your ban will not do good to professional boxing.
“Banning our fighters is not the solution. Why don’t you invite our managers, promoters and trainers to a forum to get their side and suggestions? I am more than willing to offer our place and sponsor the gathering. We hope you could consider my suggestion and save our boxers and the sport.”
Although she has long retired as a promoter, Laura continues to be involved in boxing through her children and grandson. As the mother of Philippine boxing, we pay tribute to her on this special day.
