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Philippines, 23 Nov 2024 |
Home >> News >> Columns >> Ronnie Nathanielsz |  |
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A CHAMPION OF THE WBC PhilBoxing.com Mon, 14 Mar 2011  The utter anguish of losing a beloved friend, mentor and in many respects a brother in Rudy Salud has somehow been eased by the many heartwarming tributes that have continued to flow and the specific accolades bestowed upon this towering figure in Philippine and international sports. The famed ALA Promotions whose distinguished patron Tony Aldeguer was a close friend of Salud and a partner for some time in co-managing the career of Z ?The Dream? Gorres has, together with some of his most promising fighters, are dedicating the blockbuster fight card, ?Pinoy Pride 4? to the memory of Rudy. Aldeguer whose passion for the sport of boxing and respect for our fighters ran parallel with that of Salud, the founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, said he felt the grief and sorrow of the Salud family?s loss. ?I have beautiful and wonderful memories of Rudy? said Aldeguer, referring to the time they joined hands in managing the career of Gorres. Youthful Michael Aldeguer who has assumed the task of handling the operations of ALA Promotions as its president referred to Salud as ?a great man? and will pay tribute to Salud by offering the March 19 ?Pinoy Pride 4? in his memory. Aldeguer recalled that he had always followed the career of Rudy ever since 1975 when he was with the Philippine Basketball Association first as legal counsel and later, from 1988-1992, as Commissioner. Aldeguer said Salud had taught him one very important lesson --- ?he caught me integrity not just in the world of sports but in life as well.? Rudy?s longtime friend, the current WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman who grieved over Salud?s passing and referred to him as his mentor not only declared three days of mourning by the WBC but, together with his son Mauricio Sulaiman, the secretary general of the organization, has decided to present Salud with a coveted green and gold belt championship belt of the WBC. Indeed, Salud was a champion of the WBC. This is another manifest recognition of the highest esteem in which the Sulaiman father-and-son tandem and the WBC organization itself held Rudy Salud. The belt will fittingly be presented to his lawyer son Angelico ?Chito? Salud, the current PBA Commissioner on March 25, the birth anniversary of the late, great Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for almost seven-and-a-half years. Some of the years of Elorde?s glorious reign were at the time Salud and his bosom friend Justiniano Montano Jr headed the Games and Amusements Board as well as the WBC with Montano at the helm of both organizations and Salud serving as his loyal right hand man. But while our hearts were filled by the accolades and the tributes and the endless throng of distinguished men and women who shared in the grief of Rudy?s family there was also more than a tinge of disappointment that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao whom Rudy had ardently and faithfully supported through the years failed to find time to pay his respects. Many of those who were at the wake couldn?t believe that Manny was capable of such thoughtlessness because he is such a humble and caring individual. We learned on Sunday as we gathered with the Salud family to hear Mass and celebrate what would have been Rudy?s 73rd birthday that Pacquiao had called Commissioner Chito Salud and expressed his profound regrets for being unable to pay his respects but condoled in the warmest terms possible which was, to us at least, a redeeming gesture. But to Chito, demonstrating the soothing spirit of his father, Pacquiao?s call was more than enough and he felt the sincerity of his message. Knowing Rudy?s forgiving nature he would never take Pacquiao?s failure to pay his respects personally, against him. Rudy will surely look down from the heavens above and cheer for Manny with a full voice like he always did, when he enters the ring against Shane Mosley. And we believe Manny won?t let Rudy down, at least not this time. Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author. Click here for a complete listing of this author's articles from different news sources. |
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